Chess Puzzle #4x46w — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1549 · Intermediate · advantage, intermezzo, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king a1; queen d3; rook d1; bishop b3; knights c3/e4; pawns a2/b2/h6. Black: king h8; queen c7; rooks c8/d8; knight c4; pawns a6/e7/f7/g6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc4 — queen d3→c4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd1+ — rook d8→d1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Nxd1 (knight c3→d1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxc4 — queen c7→c4, captures queen. Opponent replies Bxc4 (bishop b3→c4, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Rxc4 — rook c8→c4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, intermezzo, long, middlegame. The key move Rxd1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rr3k/2q1pp2/p5pP/8/2n1N3/1BNQ4/PP6/K2R4 w - - 1 29

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