Chess Puzzle #P10TU — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2010 · Expert · equality, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks a1/f3; bishop h6; pawns a2/c3/c4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops b2/c8; pawns a7/b7/c5/d7/e6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe7 — queen d8→e7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f3→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf8 (queen e7→f8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rf1 — rook a1→f1.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1rk1/pp1p2pp/4p2B/2p5/2P5/2P2RQ1/Pb4PP/R5K1 b - - 0 16

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