Chess Puzzle #9VMvM — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1468 · Intermediate · crushing, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks f1/g4; bishop c2; pawns a2/b2/e4/f5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks d4/f8; bishop b7; pawns a6/b5/c4/e5/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rfd8 — rook f8→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: f6 — pawn f5→f6. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen e7→f6, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Rxf6 — rook f1→f6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is f6.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/1b2q1p1/p6p/1p2pP2/2prP1R1/8/PPB1Q1PP/5RK1 b - - 4 27

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