Chess Puzzle #JrJAq — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2380 · Expert · attraction, equality, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks d1/e6; pawns a4/b4/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b7; rooks f4/f8; bishop b6; pawns a7/d5/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf2 — rook f4→f2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxb6 — rook e6→b6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxb6 (queen b7→b6, captures rook).
  3. Best move: a5 — pawn a4→a5. Opponent replies Rd2+ (rook f2→d2, gives check).
  4. Best move: axb6 — pawn a5→b6, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxd3 (rook d2→d3, captures queen).
  5. Best move: Rxd3 — rook d1→d3, captures rook.

Tactical themes

attraction, equality, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxb6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/pq4pp/1b2Rp2/3p4/PP3r2/2PQ4/5PPP/3R2K1 b - - 0 20

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