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

Rating 1420 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a3/b1; bishop f3; pawns a5/b4/d3/e4/f2/g3. Black: king c6; queen d4; rooks a8/b5; bishop e6; knight c7; pawns c3/e5/f6/g5/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rbb8 — rook b5→b8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc3+ — rook a3→c3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king c6→d7).
  3. Best move: Rxc7+ — rook c3→c7, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Rxc3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r7/2n5/2k1bp2/Pr2p1pp/1P1qP3/R1pP1BP1/2Q2P2/1R4K1 b - - 3 43

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