Chess Puzzle #3hAug — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1335 · Intermediate · advantage, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king b1; rooks d1/d2; knight e2; pawns a2/b3/c2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king e7; rooks b6/c4; bishops a3/d7; pawns e5/e6/f7/h4. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rb7 — rook b6→b7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd7+ — rook d2→d7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd7 (rook b7→d7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxd7+ — rook d1→d7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd7 (king e7→d7, captures rook).
  4. Best move: bxc4 — pawn b3→c4, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Rxd7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/3bkp2/1r2p3/4p3/2r4p/bP4P1/P1PRNP1P/1K1R4 b - - 1 25

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