Chess Puzzle #9Xurj — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short, trapped piece.

Position

White: king e1; queen h7; rooks a1/h3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c4/e4/f2. Black: king f7; queen d7; rooks a8/f6; bishop g7; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd5 — knight c3→d5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rh8 — rook a8→h8. Opponent replies Qxh8 (queen h7→h8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Bxh8 — bishop g7→h8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short, trapped piece. The key move is Rh8.

Position data

FEN: r7/pppqpkbQ/3p1r2/8/2P1P3/2N4R/PP3P2/R3K3 w Q - 2 20

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