Chess Puzzle #CaQhB — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2671 · Master · advantage, discovered attack, long, middlegame, quiet move, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks c7/d1; bishop b5; knight d2; pawns e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b2; rooks a8/d8; bishop b7; knight f6; pawns a7/b6/e4/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rab8 — rook a8→b8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxb7 — rook c7→b7, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxb7 (rook b8→b7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Nf1 — knight d2→f1. Opponent replies Rxd1 (rook d8→d1, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Qxb2 — queen e2→b2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, long, middlegame, quiet move, sacrifice. The key move Rxb7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2r2k1/pbR2ppp/1p3n2/1B6/4p3/4P2P/1q1NQPP1/3R2K1 b - - 1 20

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