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

Rating 1593 · Intermediate · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop e2; knight e5; pawns a2/c3/f6/g5/h4. Black: king c7; queen f8; rooks d8/h8; knights a5/g8; pawns c4/e6/g6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxg6 — knight e5→g6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qc5+ — queen f8→c5, gives check. Opponent replies Rf2 (rook f1→f2).
  3. Best move: Rxd1+ — rook d8→d1, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Rxd1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r1qnr/2k5/4pPp1/n3N1P1/2p4P/2P5/P3B3/R2Q1RK1 w - - 2 29

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