Chess Puzzle #LkSoT — Advanced, White to move, opening

Rating 1875 · Advanced · equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks c1/f1; bishops c2/f4; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/d4/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks c8/f8; bishops b7/e7; knights d7/f6; pawns a6/b5/c4/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa2 — queen a5→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ra1 — rook c1→a1. Opponent replies Qxa1 (queen a2→a1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxa1 — rook f1→a1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is Ra1.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/1b1nbppp/p3pn2/qp6/2pP1B2/4PN1P/PPB1QPP1/2R2RK1 b - - 1 17

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