Chess Puzzle #31NHJ — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1253 · Intermediate · crushing, master, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g2; queen e2; rooks b1/e1; bishop d2; knight g5; pawns a2/c4/g3. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks e7/e8; bishop g7; knight e4; pawns a7/c5/d4/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight g5→e4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe4 — rook e7→e4, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxe4 (queen e2→e4, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxe4 — rook e8→e4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, master, middlegame, short. The key move Rxe4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/p3r1b1/2q3p1/2p3N1/2Ppn3/6P1/P2BQ1K1/1R2R3 w - - 0 29

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