Chess Puzzle #ECYY8 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1595 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks c3/e1; bishop h3; pawns b4/d5/f2/g3/h2. Black: king f7; queen c7; rooks a8/e8; knight c4; pawns b5/d6/e7/f6/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Ra3 — rook a8→a3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxa3 — rook c3→a3, captures rook. Opponent replies Nxa3 (knight c4→a3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qe3 — queen d4→e3.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Rxa3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3r3/2q1pk2/3p1pp1/1p1P3p/1PnQ4/2R3PB/5P1P/4R1K1 b - - 1 30

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