Chess Puzzle #4uEP2 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1235 · Intermediate · crushing, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/b1; bishops d2/f3; pawns b4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks b6/b8; knights d5/f6; pawns c6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc5 — queen c2→c5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc5 — queen e7→c5, captures queen. Opponent replies bxc5 (pawn b4→c5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxb1+ — rook b6→b1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxb1 (rook a1→b1, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Rxb1+ — rook b8→b1, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Rxb1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/4qpp1/1rp2n1p/3n4/1P6/5B1P/2QB1PP1/RR4K1 w - - 5 30

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