Chess Puzzle #RZsc3 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1898 · Advanced · advantage, middlegame, short, trapped piece.

Position

White: king e1; queen h8; rook f1; bishop d6; knight c3; pawns b5/c2/d2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c4; rook a8; bishop f8; knights d7/e7; pawns a7/b7/e6/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: O-O-O — king e8→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rf4 — rook f1→f4. Opponent replies Qxf4 (queen c4→f4, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Bxf4 — bishop d6→f4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short, trapped piece. The key move is Rf4.

Position data

FEN: r3kb1Q/pp1nn3/3Bp1p1/1P6/2q5/2N5/2PP2PP/4KR2 b q - 2 19

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