Chess Puzzle #11NQd — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1572 · Intermediate · crushing, middlegame, quiet move, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen f4; rooks d1/h1; bishop d3; knight f3; pawns a3/b2/c2/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a4; rook c8; bishops b4/d7; knight e4; pawns b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: axb4 — pawn a3→b4, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ra8 — rook c8→a8. Opponent replies Qb8+ (queen f4→b8, gives check).
  3. Best move: Rxb8 — rook a8→b8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, quiet move, short. The key move is Ra8.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/1p1b1ppp/4p3/3p4/qb2nQ2/P2BPN2/1PP2PPP/1K1R3R w - - 3 16

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