Chess Puzzle #9PmYh — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1452 · Intermediate · advantage, capturing the defender, intermezzo, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen d3; rooks e2/h1; bishops b2/f3; pawns a2/b3/c2/f5/g2/h3. Black: king b8; queen b6; rooks d8/e5; bishop c5; knight e3; pawns a7/b7/c6/d4/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf5 — rook e5→f5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe3 — rook e2→e3, captures knight. Opponent replies dxe3 (pawn d4→e3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxf5 — queen d3→f5, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, capturing the defender, intermezzo, middlegame, short. The key move Rxe3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r4/pp4pp/1qp2p2/2b1rP2/3p4/1P1QnB1P/PBP1R1P1/2K4R b - - 7 23

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