Chess Puzzle #9ZyfB — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1746 · Advanced · crushing, endgame, fork, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen g1; rooks e1/e5; pawns a3/b2/c2/f3. Black: king e7; queen f4; rooks a8/h4; pawns a6/c6/d5/e6/f7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rb8 — rook a8→b8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qa7+ — queen g1→a7, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e7→d8).
  3. Best move: Qxb8+ — queen a7→b8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, short. The key move Qxb8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r7/4kp2/p1p1p3/3pR3/5q1r/P4P2/1PP5/1K2R1Q1 b - - 3 32

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