Chess Puzzle #1WT9W — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2287 · Expert · crushing, endgame, quiet move, skewer, very long.

Position

White: king h1; queen e1; rook f3; bishop c2; pawns a2/b3/c4/d5/g2/h2. Black: king f7; queen b6; rooks a8/g8; pawns a5/b7/d6/e7/f6/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg7 — rook g8→g7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe6+ — queen e1→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f7→e8).
  3. Best move: Rh3 — rook f3→h3. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e8→d8).
  4. Best move: Rh8+ — rook h3→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kc7 (king d8→c7).
  5. Best move: Rxa8 — rook h8→a8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, quiet move, skewer, very long. The key move is Qe6+.

Position data

FEN: r5r1/1p2pk2/1q1p1pp1/p2P4/2P5/1P3R2/P1B3PP/4Q2K b - - 2 25

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