Chess Puzzle #phuqc — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1920 · Advanced · crushing, defensive move, endgame, long.

Position

White: king b3; queen g2; rooks g1/h1; pawns a2/b2/c4/d5/g5. Black: king h8; queen g7; rooks a8/f4; pawns a6/b7/c7/d6/e5/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Raf8 — rook a8→f8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: g6 — pawn g5→g6. Opponent replies Rf3+ (rook f4→f3, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kb4 — king b3→b4. Opponent replies h6 (pawn h7→h6).
  4. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook h1→h6, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, long. The key move Rxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r6k/1pp3qp/p2p4/3Pp1P1/2P2r2/1K6/PP4Q1/6RR b - - 2 30

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.