Chess Puzzle #5d433 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2600 · Master · crushing, endgame, very long.

Position

White: king g2; queen b6; rooks a8/h1; pawns e3/e5/f2/g3. Black: king g7; queen g6; rooks c1/c7; pawns d5/e6/f5/g4/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: R1c6 — rook c1→c6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qb8 — queen b6→b8. Opponent replies Rc8 (rook c7→c8).
  3. Best move: Qxc8 — queen b8→c8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook c6→c8, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxc8 — rook a8→c8, captures rook. Opponent replies f4 (pawn f5→f4).
  5. Best move: Rc7+ — rook c8→c7, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, very long. The key move is Qb8.

Position data

FEN: R7/2r3k1/1Q2p1qp/3pPp2/6p1/4P1P1/5PK1/2r4R b - - 5 39

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