Chess Puzzle #59pMY — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1457 · Intermediate · advantage, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/a7; bishop e3; pawns b2/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b8; rooks b6/e8; bishop g7; knight e4; pawns b4/c5/f7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg6 — rook b6→g6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ra8 — rook a7→a8. Opponent replies Qxa8 (queen b8→a8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxa8 — rook a1→a8, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxa8 (rook e8→a8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxe4 — queen c2→e4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move is Ra8.

Position data

FEN: 1q2r1k1/R4pb1/1r6/2pP4/1p2n3/4B2P/1PQ2PP1/R5K1 b - - 1 26

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