Chess Puzzle #3AR1A — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1861 · Advanced · crushing, endgame, master, short.

Position

White: king a1; queen c3; rooks d1/g1; pawns a6/b2/e6/f2/h2. Black: king b8; queen f5; rooks d5/h8; pawns a7/b6/c5/g5/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook h8→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg7 — queen c3→g7. Opponent replies Rxd1+ (rook d5→d1, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Rxd1 — rook g1→d1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, master, short. The key move is Qg7.

Position data

FEN: 1k5r/p7/Pp2P2p/2pr1qp1/8/2Q5/1P3P1P/K2R2R1 b - - 2 31

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