Chess Puzzle #9tLBx — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2026 · Expert · equality, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king b1; queen c1; rooks e1/g4; bishop c4; knight b3; pawns a2/b2/e4/f3. Black: king b8; queen f2; rooks h2/h5; bishop e7; knight f4; pawns a6/b7/c5/e5/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rh7 — rook h5→h7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rf1 — rook e1→f1. Opponent replies Qxb2+ (queen f2→b2, captures pawn, gives check).
  3. Best move: Qxb2 — queen c1→b2, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxb2+ (rook h2→b2, captures queen, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kxb2 — king b1→b2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame. The key move is Rf1.

Position data

FEN: 1k6/1p2bp2/p5p1/2p1p2r/2B1PnR1/1N3P2/PP3q1r/1KQ1R3 b - - 1 29

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