Chess Puzzle #sa2lm — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2534 · Master · crushing, defensive move, endgame, long, queen rook endgame.

Position

White: king g2; rooks e5/e8; pawns a3/b2/c6/g3/h2. Black: king h7; queen d4; pawns a5/b5/d5/f7/g6/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxb2+ — queen d4→b2, captures pawn, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re2 — rook e5→e2. Opponent replies Qc3 (queen b2→c3).
  3. Best move: Rf2 — rook e2→f2. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h7→g7).
  4. Best move: Re7 — rook e8→e7.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, long, queen rook endgame. The key move is Re2.

Position data

FEN: 4R3/5p1k/2P3pp/pp1pR3/3q4/P5P1/1P4KP/8 b - - 0 38

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