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

Rating 1442 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, short.

Position

White: king d2; queen h3; rooks c1/h1; pawns c2/c3/e4/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen a2; rooks b2/f8; pawns a7/c6/d5/e7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf7 — rook f8→f7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qc8+ — queen h3→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
  3. Best move: Qe6+ — queen c8→e6, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, short. The key move is Qc8+.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/p3p2p/2p3p1/3p4/4P3/2P4Q/qrPK1PP1/2R4R b - - 1 21

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