Chess Puzzle #8u9Ve — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1443 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b7; rooks d7/e1; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen f4; rooks d8/e8; pawns a6/b5/c4/e5/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qg5 — queen f4→g5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd5+ — queen b7→d5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Rxd8 — rook d7→d8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, short. The key move is Qd5+.

Position data

FEN: 3rr1k1/1Q1R2pp/p4p2/1p2p3/2p2qP1/2P4P/PP3P2/4R1K1 b - - 3 35

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