Chess Puzzle #FSnej — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2652 · Master · crushing, defensive move, long, master, middlegame.

Position

White: king h2; queen f6; rooks c1/e1; bishop d4; pawns a4/e5/f5/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen a8; rooks c6/h8; bishop e4; pawns a6/d5/e6/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc8 — queen a8→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: fxe6 — pawn f5→e6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rc2+ (rook c6→c2, gives check).
  3. Best move: Rxc2 — rook c1→c2, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxc2+ (queen c8→c2, captures rook, gives check).
  4. Best move: Bf2 — bishop d4→f2.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, long, master, middlegame. The key move fxe6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: q5kr/5p2/p1r1pQpp/3pPP2/P2Bb1P1/7P/7K/2R1R3 b - - 0 37

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