Chess Puzzle #78RTJ — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2393 · Expert · crushing, endgame, long, pin.

Position

White: king h2; queen d5; rooks e3/f7; pawns a5/f3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c1; rook f8; pawns a6/b7/d2/g6/h7. White is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf7 — rook f8→f7, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re7 — rook e3→e7. Opponent replies Qg1+ (queen c1→g1, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kxg1 — king h2→g1, captures queen. Opponent replies d1=Q+ (pawn d2→d1, promotes to queen, gives check).
  4. Best move: Qxd1 — queen d5→d1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, pin. The key move is Re7.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/1p3R1p/p5p1/P2Q4/8/4RP1P/3p2PK/2q5 b - - 0 42

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