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

Rating 2424 · Master · crushing, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks f1/f3; bishop b3; pawns a3/b2/d4/e5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks c8/f8; bishop g6; pawns a6/b5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rfd8 — rook f8→d8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf7 — rook f3→f7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Bxf7 (bishop g6→f7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxf7 — rook f1→f7, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxf7 (queen c7→f7, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Bxe6 — bishop b3→e6, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The key move Rxf7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/2q2ppp/p3p1b1/1p2P3/3P2Q1/PB3R1P/1P4P1/5RK1 b - - 0 22

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