Chess Puzzle #9dAia — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1964 · Advanced · equality, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks a1/e1; bishop c3; knight d6; pawns c2/c5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen d8; rooks b8/g8; bishop d5; pawns a2/c6/f6/g6/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxe8 — queen d8→e8, captures rook. Opponent replies Nxe8 (knight d6→e8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rb1+ — rook b8→b1, gives check. Opponent replies Qd1 (queen g4→d1).
  4. Best move: Rxd1+ — rook b1→d1, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxd1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r1q1kr1/7p/2pN1pp1/2Pb4/6Q1/2B5/p1P2PPP/R3R1K1 w - - 0 23

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