Chess Puzzle #81Qzx — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1864 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops b2/c4; knights d2/h8; pawns a3/b3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rook a8; bishop f8; knights e5/g8; pawns a7/b7/c5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: cxd4 — pawn c5→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re1 — rook h1→e1. Opponent replies Be7 (bishop f8→e7).
  3. Best move: Rxe5 — rook e1→e5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Re1.

Position data

FEN: r2qkbnN/pp3ppp/8/2p1n3/2BP4/PP6/1B1N1PPP/R2K3R b q - 0 15

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