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

Rating 1927 · Advanced · attraction, crushing, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king e1; queen f6; rooks a1/h1; bishop e2; pawns a3/b2/c4/d3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks a8/e8; bishop f3; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: gxf3 — pawn g2→f3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe2+ — rook e8→e2, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe2 (king e1→e2, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Nd4+ — knight c6→d4, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd4 (queen f6→d4, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Qxd4 — queen b6→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxe2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/ppp2p1p/1qn2Q2/8/2P5/P2P1b2/1P2BPPP/R3K2R w KQ - 0 17

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