Chess Puzzle #22j0Z — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 970 · Beginner · advantage, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rooks a1/d1; bishop e3; knight e5; pawns a2/c4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h7; queen d7; rooks b8/f8; bishop e7; knight b4; pawns a6/d6/f5/g6/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxe5 — pawn d6→e5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd7 — rook d1→d7, captures queen. Opponent replies fxe4 (pawn f5→e4, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe7+ — rook d7→e7, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Rxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r3r2/3qb2k/p2p2pp/4Np2/1nP1Q3/4B2P/P4PP1/R2R2K1 b - - 0 22

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