Chess Puzzle #wOwI5 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2612 · Master · crushing, fork, middlegame, quiet move, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks e3/g4; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f2/g2/h6. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks d5/e7; bishop h8; pawns a4/b7/c6/e6/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f5 — pawn f7→f5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxg6+ — rook g4→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies hxg6 (pawn h7→g6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen g3→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  4. Best move: Rg3 — rook e3→g3. Opponent replies Rf7 (rook e7→f7).
  5. Best move: Ng5 — knight e4→g5. Opponent replies Qf6 (queen d8→f6).
  6. Best move: Nh7+ — knight g5→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
  7. Best move: Nxf6 — knight h7→f6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, quiet move, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxg6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3q2kb/1p2rp1p/2p1p1pP/3r4/p2PN1R1/2P1R1Q1/PP3PP1/6K1 b - - 12 30

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