Chess Puzzle #RROes — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2089 · Expert · advantage, master, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/d1; bishops b7/c1; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks d8/f8; bishop g7; knight d5; pawns a7/c7/e6/e7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: c4 — pawn c2→c4. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Nc3 — knight d5→c3. Opponent replies Rxd7 (rook d1→d7, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nxe2+ — knight c3→e2, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, short. The key move Nxe2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/pBpqp1bp/4p1p1/3n4/8/6PP/PPP1QP2/R1BR2K1 w - - 0 18

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