Chess Puzzle #MObBb — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1894 · Advanced · crushing, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen h5; rooks c7/f1; knight e5; pawns a2/b3/f4/g6/h3. Black: king g8; queen e3; rooks e8/f8; bishop c8; pawns a7/b5/d5/e4/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf5 — rook f8→f5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc8 — rook c7→c8, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qe2+ (queen e3→e2, gives check).
  3. Best move: Qxe2 — queen h5→e2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move Rxc8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2b1rrk1/p1R3p1/6Pp/1p1pN2Q/4pP2/1P2q2P/P6K/5R2 b - - 3 27

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