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

Rating 498 · Beginner · crushing, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rook e1; knight d4; pawns a2/b2/c3/e4/f3/g2/h4. Black: king g8; rooks e5/e8; bishop g7; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: exd5 — pawn e4→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe1+ — rook e5→e1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe1 (queen d1→e1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxe1+ — rook e8→e1, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Rxe1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/pp3pbp/2p2np1/3pr3/3NP2P/2P2P2/PP4P1/3QR1K1 w - - 0 21

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