Chess Puzzle #CRXk3 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1459 · Intermediate · advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h1; queen c2; rooks a1/e1; bishop f1; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c3/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g6; rooks a8/d8; bishop h3; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/c5/c7/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxh3 — pawn g2→h3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd2 — rook d8→d2, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxd2 (queen c2→d2, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Nf3 — knight e5→f3. Opponent replies Bg2 (bishop f1→g2).
  4. Best move: Nxd2 — knight f3→d2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxd2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2r2k1/ppp2pp1/6qp/2p1n3/4P3/2P4b/PPQN1PPP/R3RB1K w - - 0 16

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