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

Rating 1007 · Beginner · advantage, endgame, fork, long.

Position

White: king b2; rook f2; knight c6; pawns a2/b7/h2. Black: king h8; rooks e4/f8; pawns d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b8=Q — pawn b7→b8, promotes to queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxb8+ — rook f8→b8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Nxb8 (knight c6→b8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rb4+ — rook e4→b4, gives check. Opponent replies Kc3 (king b2→c3).
  4. Best move: Rxb8 — rook b4→b8, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, fork, long. The key move Rxb8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/1P3pp1/2N1p2p/3p4/4r3/8/PK3R1P/8 w - - 1 35

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