Chess Puzzle #aZacY — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1948 · Advanced · clearance, crushing, deflection, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king f2; queen h6; rooks f6/h1; pawns a2/b2/c5/d4/e5/g2/g3. Black: king f8; queen c7; rooks e6/g8; bishop e4; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ke7 — king f8→e7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe6+ — rook f6→e6, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies fxe6 (pawn f7→e6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qf6+ — queen h6→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king e7→e8).
  4. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen f6→e6, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

clearance, crushing, deflection, long, middlegame. The key move Rxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5kr1/ppq2p2/2p1rR1Q/2PpP3/3Pb3/6P1/PP3KP1/7R b - - 2 29

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