Chess Puzzle #qbSTw — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2248 · Expert · advantage, exposed king, fork, middlegame, pin, very long.

Position

White: king h1; queen d2; rooks a1/f2; knight c5; pawns a3/b4/c2/e3/f4/h3. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks e8/g3; pawns a7/c6/d5/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg1 — rook a1→g1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxh3+ — rook g3→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rh2 (rook f2→h2).
  3. Best move: Rexe3 — rook e8→e3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nd3 (knight c5→d3).
  4. Best move: Rxh2+ — rook h3→h2, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxh2 (queen d2→h2, captures rook).
  5. Best move: Rh3 — rook e3→h3.

Tactical themes

advantage, exposed king, fork, middlegame, pin, very long. The key move Rxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/p4pp1/2p4p/2Np4/1P3P1q/P3P1rP/2PQ1R2/R6K w - - 3 30

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