Chess Puzzle #8FLFG — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · advantage, deflection, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rook c7; bishop e5; knight f3; pawns b3/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b6; rook a2; bishop f6; knight d7; pawns b4/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight d7→e5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c7→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Bd8 (bishop f6→d8).
  3. Best move: Nxe5 — knight f3→e5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, middlegame, short. The key move is Rc8+.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/2Rn1ppp/1q2pb2/3pB3/1p1P4/1P1Q1N1P/r4PP1/6K1 b - - 1 23

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