Chess Puzzle #HETL4 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2203 · Expert · crushing, endgame, master, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rooks d1/f7; pawns a2/e5/g2/g3. Black: king g8; queen b2; rooks d4/d8; pawns a7/b7/d2/h4/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: hxg3 — pawn h4→g3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qf6 — queen f3→f6. Opponent replies Rh4+ (rook d4→h4, gives check).
  3. Best move: Qxh4 — queen f6→h4, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, master, short. The key move is Qf6.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/pp3R2/7p/4P3/3r3p/5QP1/Pq1p2P1/3R3K b - - 0 31

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