Chess Puzzle #6GQCC — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1426 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen b1; rooks a1/c1; knight a5; pawns a3/b3/d3/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen g6; rooks c8/e8; knight e6; pawns c6/d4/e5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc6 — rook c1→c6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc6 — rook c8→c6, captures rook. Opponent replies Nxc6 (knight a5→c6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Nf4 — knight e6→f4.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Rxc6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r1r1k1/5ppp/2p1n1q1/N3p3/3pP3/PP1P3P/5PP1/RQR3K1 w - - 1 26

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