Chess Puzzle #L70ha — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2257 · Expert · advantage, master, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen d2; rooks d1/e1; knight c6; pawns c4/d5/e2/f3. Black: king h8; queen b3; rooks a8/g6; pawns c5/c7/d6/e5/f7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rg1 — rook e1→g1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ra2 — rook a8→a2. Opponent replies Ne7 (knight c6→e7).
  3. Best move: Rxd2 — rook a2→d2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Ra2.

Position data

FEN: r6k/2p2p1p/2Np2r1/2pPp3/2P5/1q3P2/3QP2K/3RR3 w - - 1 31

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