Chess Puzzle #AFSKQ — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1962 · Advanced · crushing, endgame, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks d1/e4; pawns a4/d4/e5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks b3/h5; pawns a5/c5/e6/f7/g6/h4. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxd4 — pawn c5→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd4 — rook e4→d4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
  3. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d4→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king f8→g7).
  4. Best move: Qf4 — queen d2→f4. Opponent replies Rf5 (rook h5→f5).
  5. Best move: Qxh4 — queen f4→h4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxf2+ (queen b6→f2, captures pawn, gives check).
  6. Best move: Qxf2 — queen h4→f2, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxf2 (rook f5→f2, captures queen).
  7. Best move: Kxf2 — king g1→f2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, very long. The key move Rxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4k3/5p2/1q2p1p1/p1p1P2r/P2PR2p/1r5P/3Q1PP1/3R2K1 b - - 0 34

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