Chess Puzzle #5FsJg — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1317 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks c3/f1; bishop g3; knight f3; pawns a3/b4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e8; rooks c8/f8; bishop e7; knight c5; pawns a7/b6/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne4 — knight c5→e4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc8 — rook c3→c8, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxc8 (queen e8→c8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxe4 — queen c2→e4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Rxc8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r1qrk1/p3bpp1/1p2p2p/2n5/1P6/P1R2NB1/2Q2PPP/5RK1 b - - 0 20

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