Chess Puzzle #4b4Hl — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1198 · Beginner · advantage, fork, long, master, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rook e1; bishop d3; knight d6; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a5; rook a8; knights d5/d7; pawns a6/b7/c6/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe8 — rook a8→e8, captures rook. Opponent replies Nxe8 (knight d6→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qe1+ — queen a5→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Bf1 (bishop d3→f1).
  4. Best move: Qxe8 — queen e1→e8, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, master, middlegame. The key move Rxe8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/1p1n1p1p/p1pN2pQ/q2n4/3P4/3B3P/PP3PP1/4R1K1 w - - 5 22

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