Chess Puzzle #1escA — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 902 · Beginner · crushing, discovered attack, endgame, short.

Position

White: king g1; rook c4; bishop f4; knight c6; pawns a2/b4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; rook a8; bishop d8; knight b7; pawns a7/b6/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc8 — rook a8→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ne7+ — knight c6→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Bxe7 (bishop d8→e7, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook c4→c8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, endgame, short. The key move Rxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2b2k1/pn3ppp/1pN1p3/8/1PR2B2/6P1/P4P1P/6K1 b - - 1 22

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