Chess Puzzle #DFRzR — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1585 · Intermediate · advantage, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king g1; queen b8; rooks a1/f2; bishop h6; pawns a3/b2/f3/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen c4; rook d5; bishops b7/g7; knight f6; pawns a7/b6/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bc8 — bishop b7→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rc1 — rook a1→c1. Opponent replies Qxc1+ (queen c4→c1, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Bxc1 — bishop h6→c1, captures queen. Opponent replies Rd1+ (rook d5→d1, gives check).
  4. Best move: Rf1 — rook f2→f1.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, pin. The key move is Rc1.

Position data

FEN: 1Q4k1/pb3pbp/1p2pnpB/3r4/2q3P1/P4P2/1P3R1P/R5K1 b - - 3 29

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