Chess Puzzle #5qRUw — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1847 · Advanced · crushing, endgame, very long.

Position

White: king h1; queen g4; rooks d1/g2; pawns a3/b4/c2/f2/h2. Black: king h8; queen e5; rooks f6/f8; pawns a6/b5/d6/e4/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf2 — rook f6→f2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf2 — rook g2→f2, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxf2 (rook f8→f2, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qc8+ — queen g4→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
  4. Best move: Rg1+ — rook d1→g1, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g7→f7).
  5. Best move: Qg8+ — queen c8→g8, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, very long. The key move Rxf2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/7p/p2p1r2/1p2q3/1P2p1Q1/P7/2P2PRP/3R3K b - - 1 35

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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