Chess Puzzle #Ck3PL — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1961 · Advanced · crushing, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen f2; rook d1; bishop c1; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/e5/f4/g5. Black: king f7; queen b3; rook b8; bishop g7; knight c5; pawns a7/d7/e6/f5/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ne4 — knight c5→e4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd7+ — rook d1→d7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f7→g8).
  3. Best move: Nxe4 — knight c3→e4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move Rxd7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r6/p2p1kb1/4p1p1/2n1PpP1/5P2/PqN5/1P3Q2/1KBR4 b - - 3 27

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