Chess Puzzle #vtez0 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2439 · Master · advantage, attraction, endgame, exposed king, sacrifice, skewer.

Position

White: king h1; queen e8; rook f1; pawns a2/f3/h2. Black: king e6; queen a5; rook c2; bishop c5; pawns c7/f6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kd6 — king e6→d6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd1+ — rook f1→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Bd4 (bishop c5→d4).
  3. Best move: Rxd4+ — rook d1→d4, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kc5 (king d6→c5).
  4. Best move: Rd5+ — rook d4→d5, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd5 (king c5→d5, captures rook).
  5. Best move: Qh5+ — queen e8→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kd4 (king d5→d4).
  6. Best move: Qxa5 — queen h5→a5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, endgame, exposed king, sacrifice, skewer, very long. The key move Rxd4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4Q3/2p4p/4kp2/q1b5/8/5P2/P1r4P/5R1K b - - 1 29

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