Chess Puzzle #1bnFA — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1525 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rook c7; bishop b5; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rook d8; bishop d5; knight d7; pawns a5/b6/e5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd6 — queen e7→d6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd7 — rook c7→d7, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxd7 (rook d8→d7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Bxd7 — bishop b5→d7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Rxd7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/2Rnqpp1/1p2p2p/pB1bp3/Q2P4/5N2/PP3PPP/6K1 b - - 1 21

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