Chess Puzzle #4i0rd — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2001 · Expert · equality, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/f7; knight c4; pawns a2/b3/e4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c8; rooks c7/e8; bishop e7; pawns d6/g7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd5 — queen d3→d5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rc5 — rook c7→c5. Opponent replies Rxe7+ (rook f7→e7, captures bishop, gives check).
  3. Best move: Rxd5 — rook c5→d5, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxe8+ (rook e7→e8, captures rook, gives check).
  4. Best move: Qxe8 — queen c8→e8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame. The key move is Rc5.

Position data

FEN: 2q1r1k1/2r1bRp1/3p3p/8/2N1P3/1P1Q3P/P5P1/R5K1 w - - 1 27

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