Chess Puzzle #A07JA — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2231 · Expert · advantage, defensive move, endgame, long, quiet move.

Position

White: king d1; queen e4; rooks d2/d3; pawns a3/e5/f6/g4. Black: king g8; queen h2; rooks d5/d8; pawns a5/d4/f7/g5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen h2→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe5 — queen e4→e5, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxe5 (rook d5→e5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rh3 — rook d3→h3. Opponent replies Rd6 (rook d8→d6).
  4. Best move: Rh6 — rook h3→h6.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, endgame, long, quiet move. The key move Qxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/5p2/5P2/p2rP1p1/3pQ1P1/P2R4/3R3q/3K4 b - - 6 45

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