Chess Puzzle #3Ia41 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1512 · Intermediate · advantage, endgame, short.

Position

White: king g1; rook a1; knights c3/e2; pawns a2/b2/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; rook d8; bishops a6/f6; pawns a5/b6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rd1 — rook a1→d1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd1+ — rook d8→d1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Nxd1 (knight c3→d1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Bxe2 — bishop a6→e2, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, short. The key move Rxd1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/5pp1/bp3b1p/p7/8/2N1P3/PP2NPPP/R5K1 w - - 0 19

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