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

Rating 1236 · Intermediate · advantage, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king e1; queen a4; rooks a1/h1; bishop f1; knights c3/f3; pawns a3/b2/d4/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks c8/f8; bishops d6/f5; knight b8; pawns d5/e6/f6/f7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ra2 — rook a1→a2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc3 — rook c8→c3, captures knight. Opponent replies bxc3 (pawn b2→c3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qb1+ — queen b6→b1, gives check. Opponent replies Qd1 (queen a4→d1).
  4. Best move: Qxa2 — queen b1→a2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1nr2rk1/5p1p/1q1bpp2/3p1b2/Q2P4/P1N1PN1P/1P3PP1/R3KB1R w KQ - 3 15

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