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

Rating 1494 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, short.

Position

White: king g4; rook e3; bishop e4; pawns a3/b4/d5/e7/f6/g2. Black: king e8; rooks a7/e5; pawns a5/b5/c7/f7/h4/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: axb4 — pawn a5→b4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: d6 — pawn d5→d6. Opponent replies Rxe4+ (rook e5→e4, captures bishop, gives check).
  3. Best move: Rxe4 — rook e3→e4, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, short. The key move is d6.

Position data

FEN: 4k3/r1p1Pp2/5P1p/pp1Pr3/1P2B1Kp/P3R3/6P1/8 b - - 1 42

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