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

Rating 1936 · Advanced · attraction, endgame, equality, long, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rook a1; pawns e4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a4; bishops b4/d3; pawns c4/d5/f6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc2 — queen a4→c2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ra8+ — rook a1→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop b4→f8).
  3. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook a8→f8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qc5+ — queen d4→c5, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, endgame, equality, long, sacrifice. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/5ppp/5p2/3p4/qbpQP3/3b1P2/6PP/R5K1 b - - 1 33

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