Chess Puzzle #BWnel — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2201 · Expert · advantage, clearance, endgame, pin, quiet move, very long.

Position

White: king g1; rooks c1/e1; pawns a5/c7/f3/g3/h2. Black: king g8; rooks c4/c8; knight f4; pawns a7/d5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd3 — knight f4→d3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc4 — rook c1→c4, captures rook. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  3. Best move: Rb1 — rook e1→b1. Opponent replies dxc4 (pawn d5→c4, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Rb8 — rook b1→b8. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f8→e8).
  5. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook b8→c8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, clearance, endgame, pin, quiet move, very long. The key move Rxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/p1P2ppp/8/P2p4/2r2n2/5PP1/7P/2R1R1K1 b - - 0 30

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