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

Rating 1556 · Intermediate · crushing, master, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rooks a1/e1; knight c5; pawns a2/b2/c4/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen e7; rooks d8/g5; bishop e6; pawns a6/b7/c6/c7/f7/g4/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf5 — rook g5→f5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf5 — queen f4→f5, captures rook. Opponent replies Bxf5 (bishop e6→f5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe7 — rook e1→e7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, master, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Qxf5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2kr4/1pp1qp2/p1p1b3/2N3rp/2PP1Qp1/8/PP3PPP/R3R1K1 b - - 2 23

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