Chess Puzzle #E3Mjk — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1690 · Advanced · advantage, master, middlegame, short, trapped piece.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/f1; bishop f3; knights c2/e4; pawns a2/b2/c3/e3/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks d8/f8; bishops e6/g7; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/e5/f7/g6/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxb2 — queen b6→b2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rfb1 — rook f1→b1. Opponent replies Qxb1+ (queen b2→b1, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Rxb1 — rook a1→b1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, short, trapped piece. The key move is Rfb1.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/pp3pb1/1qn1b1pp/4p3/4N1P1/2P1PB2/PPN1Q2P/R4RK1 b - - 0 17

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