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

Rating 1412 · Intermediate · crushing, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks c1/f1; knight c3; pawns a3/b4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks c8/e5; knight g4; pawns a6/b7/d5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: h3 — pawn h2→h3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe3 — rook e5→e3, captures pawn. Opponent replies hxg4 (pawn h3→g4, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rxd3 — rook e3→d3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move Rxe3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/1p3ppp/p2q4/3pr3/1P4n1/P1NQP3/5PPP/2R2RK1 w - - 0 18

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