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

Rating 2272 · Expert · crushing, endgame, long.

Position

White: king c1; queen f2; rooks h1/h4; pawns a2/b2/c3/f5. Black: king h8; queen f7; rooks g7/g8; pawns a7/b7/c7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa2 — queen f7→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qd4 — queen f2→d4. Opponent replies Qa1+ (queen a2→a1, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kc2 — king c1→c2. Opponent replies Qxh1 (queen a1→h1, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Rxh1 — rook h4→h1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move is Qd4.

Position data

FEN: 6rk/ppp2qrp/8/5P2/7R/2P5/PP3Q2/2K4R b - - 2 29

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