Chess Puzzle #14ITS — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1278 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen f6; rook c7; knights b5/d6; pawns a4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d5; rooks a8/f8; pawns f7/g6/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf7 — rook c7→f7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf7 — rook f8→f7, captures rook. Opponent replies Nxf7 (knight d6→f7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxf7 — queen d5→f7, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Rxf7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/2R2p2/3N1Qpp/1N1q4/P7/7P/6PK/8 w - - 5 39

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