Chess Puzzle #3AxbC — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1817 · Advanced · defensive move, equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen c2; rooks d1/f1; bishop d3; pawns a3/b2/g5/h4. Black: king h8; queen c5; rooks a8/e8; knight e5; pawns c4/g6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxd3 — knight e5→d3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd3 — rook d1→d3, captures knight. Opponent replies Qc6+ (queen c5→c6, gives check).
  3. Best move: Rdf3 — rook d3→f3.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, middlegame, short. The key move Rxd3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3r2k/6pp/6p1/2q1n1P1/2p4P/P2B4/1PQ5/3R1R1K b - - 0 31

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