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

Rating 1299 · Intermediate · advantage, endgame, pin, short.

Position

White: king f2; queen f7; rook b1; bishop d2; pawns a3/c4/d5/e4/e6/h2. Black: king h8; queen g4; rook d8; bishop g7; pawns c5/d6/e5/f3/h5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxf3 — queen f7→f3, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rf8 — rook d8→f8. Opponent replies Qxf8+ (queen f3→f8, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Bxf8 — bishop g7→f8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, pin, short. The key move is Rf8.

Position data

FEN: 3r3k/5Qb1/3pP3/2pPp2p/2P1P1q1/P4p2/3B1K1P/1R6 w - - 0 36

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