Chess Puzzle #spStp — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1843 · Advanced · crushing, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king d2; queen h5; rooks a1/f3; knight g1; pawns a2/c2/c3/d4/e5/f2/g2/h4. Black: king h7; queen d8; rooks a8/g8; bishop d7; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c5/d5/e6/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg7 — rook g8→g7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rf6 — rook f3→f6. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen d8→f6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: exf6 — pawn e5→f6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move is Rf6.

Position data

FEN: rn1q2r1/pp1b3k/4p2p/2ppP2Q/3P3P/2P2R2/P1PK1PP1/R5N1 b - - 5 16

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