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

Rating 1507 · Intermediate · crushing, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king f1; queen c5; rook a1; bishop c4; knight h4; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e4; rooks a8/h8; pawns a5/b7/c6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Re1 — rook a1→e1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qh1+ — queen e4→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king f1→e2).
  3. Best move: Re8+ — rook a8→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Qe3 (queen c5→e3).
  4. Best move: Rxe3+ — rook e8→e3, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Rxe3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5kr/1p3pp1/2p4p/p1Q5/2B1q2N/6P1/PPP2P1P/R4K2 w - - 0 22

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