Chess Puzzle #FbX15 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2053 · Expert · equality, long, middlegame, quiet move.

Position

White: king h1; queen f1; rooks c1/g1; bishops c2/h2; knights c7/d2; pawns a2/b3/c3/d4/f2. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks a8/f6; bishop g7; knights c6/h5; pawns a7/b7/d5/e4/f3/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxa8 — knight c7→a8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rh6 — rook f6→h6. Opponent replies Nxf3 (knight d2→f3, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: exf3 — pawn e4→f3, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxg7+ (rook g1→g7, captures bishop, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kxg7 — king g8→g7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame, quiet move. The key move is Rh6.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/ppN3bp/2n2r2/3p3n/3Pp2q/1PP2p2/P1BN1P1B/2R2QRK w - - 1 23

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