Chess Puzzle #23ybS — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1375 · Intermediate · endgame, equality, short.

Position

White: king d2; rooks a1/b1; knight d4; pawns e4/f3/g4/h2. Black: king g8; rooks b6/b8; knight c6; pawns a5/f6/f7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc6 — knight d4→c6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxb1 — rook b6→b1, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxb1 (rook a1→b1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxb1 — rook b8→b1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

endgame, equality, short. The key move Rxb1 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/5p2/1rn2p1p/p7/3NP1P1/5P2/3K3P/RR6 w - - 0 27

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