Chess Puzzle #3XXc3 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1642 · Advanced · endgame, equality, hanging piece, intermezzo, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen c4; rooks e1/g5; pawns a2/b3/c2/g2. Black: king h8; queen h4; rook f5; pawns a5/b7/c7/e7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf5 — rook g5→f5, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe1+ — queen h4→e1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kb2 (king c1→b2).
  3. Best move: gxf5 — pawn g6→f5, captures rook.

Tactical themes

endgame, equality, hanging piece, intermezzo, short. The key move Qxe1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 7k/1pp1p2p/6p1/p4rR1/2Q4q/1P6/P1P3P1/2K1R3 w - - 0 26

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