Chess Puzzle #1rkne — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2430 · Master · crushing, endgame, exposed king, hanging piece, very long.

Position

White: king f2; queen h8; rook e1; pawns a2/b2/f5/g3/h2. Black: king e7; queen d5; rook f6; knight d2; pawns a6/c5/d3/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kd7 — king e7→d7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf6 — queen h8→f6, captures rook. Opponent replies Ne4+ (knight d2→e4, gives check).
  3. Best move: Rxe4 — rook e1→e4, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxe4 (queen d5→e4, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qe6+ — queen f6→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe6 (queen e4→e6, captures queen).
  5. Best move: fxe6+ — pawn f5→e6, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, exposed king, hanging piece, very long. The key move fxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 7Q/4k3/p4rp1/2pq1P2/8/3p2P1/PP1n1K1P/4R3 b - - 3 47

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