Chess Puzzle #8VRMV — Intermediate, White to move, endgame

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, long.

Position

White: king h2; queen g5; rook d7; pawns e3/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen f2; rook f8; pawns b6/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf5 — queen f2→f5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe7 — queen g5→e7. Opponent replies Rf7 (rook f8→f7).
  3. Best move: Qxf7 — queen e7→f7, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxf7 (queen f5→f7, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxf7 — rook d7→f7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move is Qe7.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/3R3p/1p4p1/6Q1/8/4P2P/5qPK/8 b - - 1 33

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