Chess Puzzle #le0Cj — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2026 · Expert · crushing, endgame, very long.

Position

White: king c1; queen d4; rooks d1/g1; pawns b2/c3/f2/f3/h2. Black: king h8; queen a2; rooks e8/f8; pawns b6/c7/d6/f6/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re6 — rook e8→e6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg4 — queen d4→g4. Opponent replies Qa1+ (queen a2→a1, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kc2 — king c1→c2. Opponent replies Re2+ (rook e6→e2, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kd3 — king c2→d3. Opponent replies Qxd1+ (queen a1→d1, captures rook, gives check).
  5. Best move: Rxd1 — rook g1→d1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, very long. The key move is Qg4.

Position data

FEN: 4rr1k/2p2p1p/1p1p1p2/8/3Q4/2P2P2/qP3P1P/2KR2R1 b - - 1 23

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