Chess Puzzle #2qeS3 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1267 · Intermediate · crushing, master, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen h3; rooks f1/h5; bishops b3/e3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d1; rooks a8/d8; bishop e7; knight f8; pawns a7/b7/c6/e4/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd1 — rook f1→d1, captures queen. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd1+ — rook d8→d1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bg1 (bishop e3→g1).
  3. Best move: Bc5 — bishop e7→c5.

Tactical themes

crushing, master, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Rxd1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2r1n1k/pp2b1pp/2p5/4P2R/4p3/1B2B2Q/PPP3PP/3q1R1K w - - 6 23

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