Chess Puzzle #RpfWU — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2541 · Master · advantage, attraction, collinear, deflection, endgame, fork.

Position

White: king h2; queen e7; rooks a2/f2; pawns a3/c4/d5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d4; rooks c8/d8; pawns d6/e5/f4/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc4 — queen d4→c4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rac2 — rook a2→c2. Opponent replies Qxd5 (queen c4→d5, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Rc7 — rook c2→c7. Opponent replies Rxc7 (rook c8→c7, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen e7→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
  5. Best move: Qxc7 — queen d8→c7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, collinear, deflection, endgame, fork, very long. The key move Qxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rr2k1/4Q1p1/3p3p/3Pp3/2Pq1p2/P6P/R4RPK/8 b - - 6 31

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