Chess Puzzle #2ERio — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1210 · Intermediate · advantage, master, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks a1/e1; bishops a6/h2; pawns c3/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/e8; bishop b7; knight g6; pawns c7/d6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe1+ — queen e7→e1, captures rook, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe1 — rook a1→e1, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxe1+ (rook e8→e1, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Qxe1 — queen d2→e1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/1bp1qppp/B2p2n1/3P4/8/2P4P/3Q1PPB/R3R1K1 b - - 0 22

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