Chess Puzzle #Eu3U8 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1436 · Intermediate · advantage, clearance, discovered attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h2; queen f3; rooks c2/e2; bishop g3; knight a2; pawns b2/e5/f2/g2/h5. Black: king g8; queen b4; rooks c8/d1; bishops b7/g5; pawns a6/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qb6 — queen b4→b6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook c2→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxc8 (bishop b7→c8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rc2 — rook e2→c2. Opponent replies Bb7 (bishop c8→b7).
  4. Best move: Qxd1 — queen f3→d1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, clearance, discovered attack, long, middlegame. The key move Rxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/1b3pp1/p3p2p/3pP1bP/1q6/5QB1/NPR1RPPK/3r4 b - - 7 30

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