Chess Puzzle #sji8e — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1885 · Advanced · advanced pawn, crushing, discovered attack, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king e2; queen f5; rooks g1/h1; bishop d2; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f2/g6/h5. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks c8/e8; bishop c5; knight a4; pawns a5/b4/c6/e5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc7 — rook c8→c7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: gxh7+ — pawn g6→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Rxg7 — rook g1→g7, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, discovered attack, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move gxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rqr1k1/5ppp/2p3P1/p1b1pQ1P/np2P3/8/PPPBKP2/6RR b - - 0 23

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