Chess Puzzle #1LLwN — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1152 · Beginner · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rook c1; bishops b2/d3; knight c3; pawns a3/b4/d4/f2/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen f4; rook c8; bishops d5/f8; knight g6; pawns a6/b5/d6/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd5 — knight c3→d5, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc1+ — rook c8→c1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxc1 (bishop b2→c1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxc1+ — queen f4→c1, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Rxc1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r2bk1/5pp1/p2pp1np/1p1b4/1P1P1qP1/P1NB2QP/1B3P2/2R3K1 w - - 8 26

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