Chess Puzzle #4JpAP — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1446 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, rook endgame, short.

Position

White: king g1; rook b2; bishop e3; pawns a7/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; rook a8; pawns b3/d4/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: dxe3 — pawn d4→e3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxb3 — rook b2→b3, captures pawn. Opponent replies h5 (pawn h7→h5).
  3. Best move: Rb8+ — rook b3→b8, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, rook endgame, short. The key move Rxb3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/P4ppp/8/8/3p4/1p2B3/1R3PPP/6K1 b - - 0 31

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