Chess Puzzle #XZ0dK — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2041 · Expert · endgame, equality, intermezzo, very long.

Position

White: king f2; queen f5; rooks e2/e3; pawns f4/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen b4; rooks e6/e8; pawns b6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe3 — rook e6→e3, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd5+ — queen f5→d5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  3. Best move: Rxe3 — rook e2→e3, captures rook. Opponent replies Qb2+ (queen b4→b2, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kf3 — king f2→f3. Opponent replies Rxe3+ (rook e8→e3, captures rook, gives check).
  5. Best move: Kxe3 — king f3→e3, captures rook.

Tactical themes

endgame, equality, intermezzo, very long. The key move is Qd5+.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/6pp/1p2r3/5Q2/1q3P2/4R1P1/4RK1P/8 b - - 0 39

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