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

Rating 1500 · Intermediate · advantage, long, middlegame, queenside attack.

Position

White: king b1; queen e4; rooks d1/e2; bishops b3/g3; pawns a3/b2/c3/f2/h4. Black: king c8; queen d7; rooks d8/h8; bishop b6; knight d3; pawns a7/b7/c7/e5/f6/g4/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nc5 — knight d3→c5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd7 — rook d1→d7, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxe4 (knight c5→e4, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d7→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd8 (king c8→d8, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Rxe4 — rook e2→e4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, queenside attack. The key move Rxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/pppq4/1b3p2/4p2p/4Q1pP/PBPn2B1/1P2RP2/1K1R4 b - - 1 27

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