Chess Puzzle #NbL40 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2608 · Master · advantage, clearance, fork, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king d1; queen d2; rooks d5/f1; bishop e4; pawns a2/c2/c4/f3/g5/h4. Black: king f7; queen d6; rooks f4/f8; knight c6; pawns a7/b6/d4/e5/g6/g7/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qe6 — queen d6→e6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe5 — rook d5→e5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxe5 (queen e6→e5, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Bd5+ — bishop e4→d5, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f7→e7).
  4. Best move: Re1 — rook f1→e1.

Tactical themes

advantage, clearance, fork, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The key move Rxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/p4kp1/1pnq2p1/3Rp1Pp/2PpBr1P/5P2/P1PQ4/3K1R2 b - - 6 27

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