Chess Puzzle #L5J55 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1491 · Intermediate · advantage, middlegame, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rook d1; bishop c4; knight b5; pawns a2/b3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen c5; rook d8; bishops b7/d2; pawns a5/e5/f5/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: e4 — pawn e5→e4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd2 — rook d1→d2, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxd2 (rook d8→d2, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qc3+ — queen h3→c3, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The key move Rxd2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3r3k/1b5p/6p1/pNq1pp2/2B5/1P5Q/P2b1PPP/3R2K1 b - - 4 28

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