Chess Puzzle #20LpS — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1577 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rook a1; bishop b2; knight f3; pawns a2/b5/c4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen c6; rooks e5/e8; bishop h3; pawns a7/b7/c5/d4/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re1+ — rook e5→e1, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe1 — rook a1→e1, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxe1+ (rook e8→e1, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Nxe1 — knight f3→e1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Rxe1 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4r2k/pp3pp1/2q5/1Pp1r3/2Pp4/3Q1NPb/PB3P1P/R5K1 b - - 0 26

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