Chess Puzzle #LfA2n — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1958 · Advanced · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c6; rooks e1/f1; bishops d2/g2; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/f2/h2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e6; rooks f8/h4; bishop d6; knights c5/f6; pawns a7/e4/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kh1 — king g1→h1. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rc8 — rook f8→c8. Opponent replies Qxc8+ (queen c6→c8, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Qxc8 — queen e6→c8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move is Rc8.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/p4pp1/2Qbqn1p/2n5/4p2r/2NP3P/PPPB1PBP/4RRK1 w - - 0 20

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