Chess Puzzle #JWwXu — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1538 · Intermediate · equality, middlegame, short, skewer.

Position

White: king h1; queen e5; rooks d1/f1; bishop e2; pawns a2/b2/c3/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rook d8; bishop h7; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/d5/g7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: b4 — pawn b2→b4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Re8 — rook d8→e8. Opponent replies Qg3 (queen e5→g3).
  3. Best move: Rxe2 — rook e8→e2, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short, skewer. The key move is Re8.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/pp4pb/1q3n1p/3pQ3/8/2P2P2/PP2B1PP/3R1R1K w - - 5 22

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