Chess Puzzle #3jMe9 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1035 · Beginner · advantage, hanging piece, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishop c4; knight f2; pawns a2/b2/d5/g2. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks d8/f8; bishop f5; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne5 — knight c6→e5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe5 — rook e1→e5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxc4 (queen h4→c4, captures bishop).
  3. Best move: Rxf5 — rook e5→f5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Rxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/ppp2pp1/2n4p/3P1b2/2B4q/8/PP3NP1/R2QR1K1 b - - 0 20

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