Chess Puzzle #2cL55 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1984 · Advanced · defensive move, equality, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/f1; bishop b3; knight f3; pawns b2/d3/e4/f2/h3. Black: king h8; queen b6; rooks a8/f8; knights e7/g4; pawns b5/d6/e5/g6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: hxg4 — pawn h3→g4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxa1 — rook a8→a1, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxa1 (rook f1→a1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxf3 — rook f8→f3, captures knight. Opponent replies Ra8+ (rook a1→a8, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kh7 — king h8→h7.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, long, middlegame. The key move Rxa1 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/4n1p1/1q1p2pp/1p2p3/4P1n1/1B1P1N1P/1PQ2P2/R4RK1 w - - 0 25

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