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

Rating 1410 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen c2; rooks d1/h1; knight e3; pawns a2/b2/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f4; rook b4; bishop a6; knight d7; pawns a7/c5/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: d6 — pawn d5→d6. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rc4 — rook b4→c4. Opponent replies Qxc4 (queen c2→c4, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Bxc4 — bishop a6→c4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Rc4.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/p2n1p1p/b5p1/2pP4/1r3q2/4N2P/PPQ2PP1/2KR3R w - - 7 23

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