Chess Puzzle #ICuRX — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1964 · Advanced · crushing, endgame, long, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen g8; rooks a8/d1; pawns b4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g6; queen d5; rook c3; bishop g7; pawns d2/e6/f6/f7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd8 — queen g8→d8. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rc1 — rook c3→c1. Opponent replies Qxd5 (queen d8→d5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxd1+ — rook c1→d1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king g1→g2).
  4. Best move: exd5 — pawn e6→d5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, sacrifice. The key move Rxd1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: R5Q1/5pb1/4ppk1/3q4/1P6/2r3P1/3p1P1P/3R2K1 w - - 12 43

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