Chess Puzzle #FFxr2 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1547 · Intermediate · attraction, clearance, crushing, endgame, long.

Position

White: king g1; queen d7; rook d1; bishop h4; pawns a3/c3/c7/e4/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen c8; rooks a8/f8; pawns a5/b6/e5/f6/g6/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ra7 — rook a8→a7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc8 — queen d7→c8, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook f8→c8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king h8→h7).
  4. Best move: Rxc8 — rook d8→c8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

attraction, clearance, crushing, endgame, long. The key move Qxc8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1q2r1k/2PQ2p1/1p3pp1/p3p3/4P2B/P1P4P/6P1/3R2K1 b - - 0 30

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