Chess Puzzle #0r8Uu — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1797 · Advanced · advantage, middlegame, queenside attack, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen a7; rooks d1/h1; bishops f3/g3; knights b5/d4; pawns a2/b2/c4/f2/h2. Black: king e8; queen h3; rooks c8/h8; bishops f5/f8; knights e4/g6; pawns b7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxb7 — queen a7→b7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc4+ — rook c8→c4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Nc2 (knight d4→c2).
  3. Best move: Rxc2+ — rook c4→c2, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, queenside attack, short. The key move Rxc4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r1kb1r/Qp3ppp/4p1n1/1N3b2/2PNn3/5BBq/PP3P1P/2KR3R w k - 4 18

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