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

Rating 1438 · Intermediate · crushing, long, master, middlegame.

Position

White: king f2; queen d3; rooks d1/e2; bishops c3/h3; pawns a4/b5/d5/e3/f3/f4/h2. Black: king g8; queen f7; rooks e7/e8; bishop g6; knight h5; pawns a7/b6/c5/d6/f5/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg1 — rook d1→g1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf4 — knight h5→f4, captures pawn. Opponent replies exf4 (pawn e3→f4, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rxe2+ — rook e7→e2, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe2 (queen d3→e2, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Rxe2+ — rook e8→e2, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, master, middlegame. The key move Rxe2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/p3rqp1/1p1p2bp/1PpP1p1n/P4P2/2BQPP1B/4RK1P/3R4 w - - 2 30

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