Chess Puzzle #2IC9g — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1966 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, short, trapped piece.

Position

White: king g1; queen a8; rooks a1/h8; knight g4; pawns a3/b4/c4/d3/f2/g3/g6. Black: king e7; queen d7; rook f5; bishop d6; knight e6; pawns a7/b6/c6/d4/e5/g7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rh7 — rook h8→h7. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rf8 — rook f5→f8. Opponent replies Qxf8+ (queen a8→f8, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Kxf8 — king e7→f8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short, trapped piece. The key move is Rf8.

Position data

FEN: Q6R/p2qk1p1/1ppbn1P1/4pr2/1PPp2N1/P2P2P1/5P2/R5K1 w - - 0 29

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