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

Rating 1420 · Intermediate · crushing, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen g5; rooks a1/f4; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/g7; pawns a6/b7/d5/e7/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: e5 — pawn e7→e5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: f6 — pawn f5→f6. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen d8→f6, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Rxf6 — rook f4→f6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is f6.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1rk1/1p2ppbp/p7/3p1PQ1/5R2/2N5/PPP3PP/R6K b - - 2 17

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