Chess Puzzle #MdNb9 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2324 · Expert · crushing, defensive move, endgame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rook e7; pawns e3/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen b6; rook b8; pawns a5/e4/f5/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a4 — pawn a5→a4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qe5 — queen f4→e5. Opponent replies Qxe3+ (queen b6→e3, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kh2 — king g1→h2.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, short. The key move is Qe5.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/4R3/1q4p1/p4p1p/4pQ1P/4P3/6P1/6K1 b - - 6 41

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