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

Rating 2299 · Expert · crushing, defensive move, endgame, very long.

Position

White: king h1; queen g6; rook d1; bishop g2; pawns a2/b2/c3/e2/h4. Black: king h8; queen e3; rooks a8/f8; pawns a7/b6/c6/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf2 — rook f8→f2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd7 — rook d1→d7. Opponent replies Qc1+ (queen e3→c1, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kh2 — king h1→h2. Opponent replies Qf4+ (queen c1→f4, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kg1 — king h2→g1. Opponent replies Rxg2+ (rook f2→g2, captures bishop, gives check).
  5. Best move: Kxg2 — king g1→g2, captures rook. Opponent replies Qg4+ (queen f4→g4, gives check).
  6. Best move: Qxg4 — queen g6→g4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, very long. The key move is Rd7.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/p7/1pp3Qp/8/7P/2P1q3/PP2P1B1/3R3K b - - 0 29

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