Chess Puzzle #2PfdM — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1279 · Intermediate · advantage, deflection, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king d2; queen a3; rooks a1/g1; bishops e2/f8; pawns a2/b2/d4/h5. Black: king g8; queen f4; rook c8; bishop d5; pawns a7/b6/d7/e6/g4/g7/h7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe3 — queen a3→e3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rc2+ — rook c8→c2, gives check. Opponent replies Kxc2 (king d2→c2, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe3 — queen f4→e3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, middlegame, short. The key move is Rc2+.

Position data

FEN: 2r2Bk1/p2p2pp/1p2p3/3b3P/3P1qp1/Q7/PP1KB3/R5R1 w - - 0 23

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