Chess Puzzle #15LII — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1403 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks c1/f1; bishop h4; knight d2; pawns a2/b4/e5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks c8/f8; bishop e7; knight f6; pawns a6/b5/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd7 — knight f6→d7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc8 — rook c1→c8, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxc8 (queen d8→c8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Bxe7 — bishop h4→e7, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Rxc8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2rq1rk1/4bpp1/p3pn1p/1p1pP3/1P5B/7P/P2N1PP1/2RQ1RK1 b - - 0 17

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