Chess Puzzle #48Xeb — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1290 · Intermediate · crushing, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king a3; queen b6; rooks a1/h1; knight d5; pawns b3/e4/f3/h2. Black: king g8; queen g5; rooks c5/g2; pawns d6/e5/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd6 — queen b6→d6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ra5+ — rook c5→a5, gives check. Opponent replies Kb4 (king a3→b4).
  3. Best move: Qd2+ — queen g5→d2, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move is Ra5+.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/5pp1/1Q1p3p/2rNp1q1/4P3/KP3P2/6rP/R6R w - - 5 32

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