Chess Puzzle #6UcKn — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1512 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, pin, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen g2; rook c1; knight g5; pawns a3/b4/f2/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen d7; rook d4; knight e5; pawns a6/b6/e6/f5/g7/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rd2 — rook d4→d2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa8+ — queen g2→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Qd8 (queen d7→d8).
  3. Best move: Rc8 — rook c1→c8.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, pin, short. The key move is Qa8+.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/3q2p1/pp2p3/4npNp/1P1r4/P5PP/5PQK/2R5 b - - 1 30

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