Chess Puzzle #8aLoV — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2076 · Expert · crushing, long, middlegame, quiet move.

Position

White: king c1; queen f6; rooks d1/g1; bishop c4; pawns c2/d3/d5/f2/f3/h4. Black: king g8; queen c3; rooks b8/f8; pawns a5/d4/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h5 — pawn h4→h5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rb2 — rook b8→b2. Opponent replies Bb3 (bishop c4→b3).
  3. Best move: Rc8 — rook f8→c8. Opponent replies Qc6 (queen f6→c6).
  4. Best move: Rxc6 — rook c8→c6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, quiet move. The key move is Rb2.

Position data

FEN: 1r3rk1/5p1p/5Qp1/p2P4/2Bp3P/2qP1P2/2P2P2/2KR2R1 w - - 0 25

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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