Chess Puzzle #33ebY — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1067 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king d1; queen c2; rooks e1/e7; knight b3; pawns b2/c3/d4/f3/h2. Black: king c8; queen a6; rook f8; bishop h6; knights e4/h5; pawns a7/b7/c7/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ng5 — knight e4→g5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook f8→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king c8→d7).
  4. Best move: Nc5+ — knight b3→c5, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe8 (king d7→e8, captures rook).
  5. Best move: Nxa6 — knight c5→a6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2k2r2/ppp1R2p/q5pb/5p1n/3Pn3/1NP2P2/1PQ4P/3KR3 b - - 0 32

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