Chess Puzzle #41aVE — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1001 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, short, trapped piece.

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks e1/f2; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/e6/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f8; rooks e7/e8; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: f5 — pawn f6→f5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf5 — rook f2→f5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxf5 (queen f8→f5, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxf5 — queen g4→f5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, short, trapped piece. The key move Rxf5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4rqk1/pp2r1pp/2p1Pp2/3p4/3P2Q1/8/PPP2RPP/4R1K1 b - - 8 23

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