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

Rating 2540 · Master · crushing, endgame, exposed king, long.

Position

White: king h3; queen g4; rook a7; pawns a3/e3/f3/h2. Black: king g8; queen f5; rook c2; pawns a6/b5/f6/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe5 — queen f5→e5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ra8+ — rook a7→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
  3. Best move: Qd7+ — queen g4→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Qe7 (queen e5→e7).
  4. Best move: Qf5 — queen d7→f5.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, exposed king, long. The key move is Ra8+.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/R7/p4p1p/1p3qp1/6Q1/P3PP1K/2r4P/8 b - - 4 29

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