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

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rook f3; bishop d4; pawns a3/b2/c5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen g6; rook d8; bishop f7; pawns a7/b6/c6/g7/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bd5 — bishop f7→d5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rg3 — rook f3→g3. Opponent replies Qxg3 (queen g6→g3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxg3 — queen f4→g3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, short. The key move is Rg3.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/p4bp1/1pp3q1/2P4p/3B1Q2/P4R1P/1P4P1/6K1 b - - 3 34

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