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

Rating 1869 · Advanced · equality, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen a6; rooks c1/d1; bishop f3; pawns a2/d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks c8/f8; bishop e6; knight e7; pawns c4/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc7 — queen d8→c7. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: d5 — pawn d4→d5. Opponent replies Nxd5 (knight e7→d5, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Bxd5 — bishop f3→d5, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxd5 (bishop e6→d5, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Rxd5 — rook d1→d5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame. The key move is d5.

Position data

FEN: 2rq1rk1/4nppp/Q3b3/8/2pP4/4PB2/P4PPP/2RR2K1 b - - 0 25

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