Chess Puzzle #1cO7O — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rooks b1/e1; knight e5; pawns a4/b5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen b8; rooks a8/e8; bishop f6; pawns a7/b6/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd7 — knight e5→d7. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxe6 — rook e8→e6, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxb8 (knight d7→b8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxe1+ — rook e6→e1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe1 (rook b1→e1, captures rook).
4. Best move: Rxb8 — rook a8→b8, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Rxe1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rq2r2k/p5p1/1p2Qb1p/1P2N3/P7/8/5PPP/1R2R1K1 w - - 3 26

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