Chess Puzzle #3M18v — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1171 · Beginner · advantage, fork, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen c3; rooks d2/h5; bishop f4; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/e3/e5/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks b4/f8; knights c6/d7; pawns a6/c7/d5/e6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc6 — queen c3→c6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rc4+ — rook b4→c4, gives check. Opponent replies Rc2 (rook d2→c2).
  3. Best move: Rxc6 — rook c4→c6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Rc4+.

Position data

FEN: 3q1rk1/2pn2pp/p1n1p3/3pP2R/1r3B2/2Q1PN2/PP1R1PP1/2K5 w - - 1 19

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