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

Rating 2274 · Expert · crushing, defensive move, endgame, long, queen endgame, quiet move.

Position

White: king g3; queen e6; pawns a2/b3/c4/e4/g4. Black: king h8; queen d8; pawns a6/c7/d6/e5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qf6 — queen d8→f6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf6 — queen e6→f6, captures queen. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures queen).
  3. Best move: b4 — pawn b3→b4. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
  4. Best move: a4 — pawn a2→a4.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, long, queen endgame, quiet move. The key move Qxf6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3q3k/2p3p1/p2pQ2p/4p3/2P1P1P1/1P4K1/P7/8 b - - 5 35

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