Chess Puzzle #E5SdF — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1524 · Intermediate · advanced pawn, crushing, defensive move, endgame, long, promotion.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; pawns c5/d6/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a4; pawns b3/c6/e6/f7/g6/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b2 — pawn b3→b2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: d7 — pawn d6→d7. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
  3. Best move: d8=Q — pawn d7→d8, promotes to queen. Opponent replies Qa1+ (queen a4→a1, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kh2 — king g1→h2.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, defensive move, endgame, long, promotion, queen endgame. The key move is d7.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/5pp1/2pPp1p1/2P5/q3P3/1p1Q3P/5PP1/6K1 b - - 0 30

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