Chess Puzzle #rKX40 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2279 · Expert · advantage, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king b1; queen c2; rooks e6/f3; pawns a2/b2/c3. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks c8/g8; bishop f6; pawns a7/b7/d4/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf7 — king e8→f7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rexf6+ — rook e6→f6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen d8→f6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qb3+ — queen c2→b3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king f7→g7).
  4. Best move: Qxb7+ — queen b3→b7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king g7→h6).
  5. Best move: Rxf6 — rook f3→f6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rexf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rqk1r1/pp6/4Rbp1/7p/3p4/2P2R2/PPQ5/1K6 b - - 0 27

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