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

Rating 1342 · Intermediate · advantage, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rooks e4/f1; bishop b2; knight c2; pawns a2/b3/c5/d4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/e7; bishops e6/g3; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bd5 — bishop e6→d5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe7 — rook e4→e7, captures rook. Opponent replies Bxf3 (bishop d5→f3, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxc7 — rook e7→c7, captures queen. Opponent replies Bxg2+ (bishop f3→g2, captures pawn, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kxg2 — king h1→g2, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Rxe7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/ppq1rpp1/2p1b2p/2P5/3PR3/1P3QbP/PBN3P1/5R1K b - - 0 26

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