Chess Puzzle #37Sg2 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1435 · Intermediate · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e1; rook d1; bishops a1/c6; pawns e5/g3/h2. Black: king g7; queen f7; rooks f2/f8; pawns a5/e6/g5/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qa7 — queen f7→a7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd7+ — rook d1→d7, gives check. Opponent replies R2f7+ (rook f2→f7, gives check).
  3. Best move: Rxa7 — rook d7→a7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Rd7+.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/5qk1/2B1p2p/p3P1p1/8/6P1/5r1P/B2RQ1K1 b - - 1 41

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