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

Rating 2248 · Expert · crushing, endgame, pin, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen e8; rook g1; knight d1; pawns a4/g2/h3. Black: king g6; queen d4; rook f6; bishop g3; pawns a7/d5/e4/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf7 — rook f6→f7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rf1 — rook g1→f1. Opponent replies Qg7 (queen d4→g7).
  3. Best move: Ne3 — knight d1→e3.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, pin, short. The key move is Rf1.

Position data

FEN: 4Q3/p7/5rk1/3p3p/P2qp3/6bP/6P1/3N2RK b - - 2 50

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