Chess Puzzle #1EQb0 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1228 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, hanging piece, intermezzo, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen g4; rook e1; bishop c4; pawns a2/b2/d3/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d7; rook e8; bishop d4; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxg4 — queen d7→g4, captures queen. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
  3. Best move: fxg4 — pawn f3→g4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, hanging piece, intermezzo, short. The key move Rxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/pp1q1p1p/2p5/8/2Bb2Q1/3P1P2/PP4PP/4R2K b - - 3 30

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