Chess Puzzle #CV6S4 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1558 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, short.

Position

White: king f1; queen e3; rook e1; pawns a3/b2/c4/d5/f2/g3/h2. Black: king f6; queen d7; rook f8; pawns a7/b6/c6/d6/f5/g4/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook f8→e8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe8 — queen e3→e8, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxe8 (queen d7→e8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe8 — rook e1→e8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, short. The key move Qxe8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/p2q4/1ppp1kp1/3P1p2/2P3p1/P3Q1P1/1P3P1P/4RK2 b - - 0 26

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