Chess Puzzle #1Q4FQ — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1371 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rook c1; pawns b2/d4/f2/g3/h4. Black: king g7; queen d7; rook d3; pawns a7/b6/e6/g6/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd4 — rook d3→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe5+ — queen e4→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g7→f7).
  3. Best move: Rc7 — rook c1→c7.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, pin, short. The key move is Qe5+.

Position data

FEN: 8/p2q2k1/1p2p1p1/7p/3PQ2P/3r2P1/1P3P2/2R3K1 b - - 3 35

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