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

Rating 1591 · Intermediate · equality, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rooks b1/f1; bishop a3; pawns c4/f2/h2. Black: king d7; queen c6; rooks a8/g2; knight f6; pawns a6/b7/d5/e6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxg2 — queen h3→g2, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rg8 — rook a8→g8. Opponent replies Qxg8 (queen g2→g8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Nxg8 — knight f6→g8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Rg8.

Position data

FEN: r7/1p1k3p/p1q1pn2/3p4/2P5/B6Q/5PrP/1R3RK1 w - - 0 23

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