Chess Puzzle #A3B3n — Intermediate, Black to move, opening

Rating 1560 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rooks c1/f1; bishops e2/e3; knights c2/c3; pawns a3/b4/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks c8/f8; bishop e7; knights d4/f6; pawns a7/b6/d6/e5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd3 — queen c4→d3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc3 — rook c8→c3, captures knight. Opponent replies Nxd4 (knight c2→d4, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Rxd3 — rook c3→d3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Rxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/p2qbppp/1p1p1n2/4p3/1PQnP3/P1N1B3/2N1BPPP/2R2RK1 w - - 1 16

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