Chess Puzzle #38rPz — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1673 · Advanced · collinear, crushing, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king c1; queen e3; rooks d1/d3; bishop f5; knight b3; pawns a2/b2/c2/g4/h3. Black: king a7; queen c7; rooks d8/h8; bishops c4/e7; pawns a6/b7/e5/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b6 — pawn b7→b6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd7 — rook d3→d7. Opponent replies Rxd7 (rook d8→d7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxd7 — rook d1→d7, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxd7 (queen c7→d7, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Bxd7 — bishop f5→d7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

collinear, crushing, long, middlegame, pin. The key move is Rd7.

Position data

FEN: 3r3r/kpq1bp2/p6p/4pBp1/2b3P1/1N1RQ2P/PPP5/2KR4 b - - 9 22

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