Chess Puzzle #LEl32 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2021 · Expert · crushing, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen c7; rook e1; bishops f2/h1; pawns a5/c3/d4/g3/h2. Black: king h7; queen d3; rook f8; bishops g7/h3; pawns f7/g6/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc5 — queen c7→c5. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Re8 — rook f8→e8. Opponent replies Ra1 (rook e1→a1).
  3. Best move: Re2 — rook e8→e2. Opponent replies Bg2 (bishop h1→g2).
  4. Best move: Rxf2 — rook e2→f2, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move is Re8.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/2Q2pbk/6pp/P7/3P4/2Pq2Pb/5B1P/4R1KB w - - 1 32

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