Chess Puzzle #3my0l — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1035 · Beginner · advantage, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen b1; rooks a1/c1; knights b3/f3; pawns a5/b6/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks c2/c8; bishop e7; knights d2/d7; pawns d4/e5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nbxd2 — knight b3→d2, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc1+ — rook c2→c1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc1 (queen b1→c1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxc1+ — queen c6→c1, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc1 (rook a1→c1, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxc1+ — rook c8→c1, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Rxc1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/3nbpp1/1Pq4p/P3p3/3p4/1N3N1P/2rn1PP1/RQR3K1 w - - 0 29

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