Chess Puzzle #0es4n — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1346 · Intermediate · advantage, endgame, long.

Position

White: king f1; queen b5; rooks c1/c4; pawns a4/d4/d7/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen d6; rook b7; knight b4; pawns a5/b6/e6/f5/g5/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc7 — rook c4→c7. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc7 — rook b7→c7, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxc7 (rook c1→c7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxc7 — queen d6→c7, captures rook. Opponent replies Qe5+ (queen b5→e5, gives check).
  4. Best move: Qxe5 — queen c7→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, long. The key move Rxc7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 8/1r1P2k1/1p1qp2p/pQ3pp1/PnRP4/4P3/5PPP/2R2K2 w - - 1 30

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