Chess Puzzle #Lb3ld — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1409 · Intermediate · crushing, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g6; rooks b1/e8; pawns a2/c3/d5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen f6; rooks a8/h8; knight b8; pawns a6/c7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kd7 — king c8→d7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf6 — queen g6→f6, captures queen. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxh8 — rook e8→h8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move Qxf6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: rnk1R2r/2p3p1/p4qQp/3P4/8/2P5/P4PPP/1R4K1 b - - 5 24

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