Chess Puzzle #8HkPR — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1954 · Advanced · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen a1; rooks a5/e1; knights c3/f3; pawns b3/c4/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f4; rooks a8/f8; bishop e7; knight h7; pawns a6/c7/d6/e5/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxa6 — rook a5→a6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxa6 — rook a8→a6, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxa6 (queen a1→a6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Ng5 — knight h7→g5.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Rxa6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/2p1b1pn/p2p3p/R2Pp3/2P2q2/1PN2N1P/5PP1/Q3R1K1 w - - 0 21

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