Chess Puzzle #SOmy9 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1944 · Advanced · equality, long, middlegame, quiet move.

Position

White: king g1; queen b8; rooks a2/e8; bishop c1; knight c3; pawns a3/b4/d2/d5/f2/g3/h2. Black: king h7; queen g6; rook h8; bishops f8/h3; pawns a4/b5/d6/f6/g7/h5. White is ahead by 6 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxf8 — rook e8→f8, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf8 — rook h8→f8, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxb5 (queen b8→b5, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Re8 — rook f8→e8. Opponent replies f3 (pawn f2→f3).
  4. Best move: Re1+ — rook e8→e1, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame, quiet move. The key move Rxf8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1Q2Rb1r/6pk/3p1pq1/1p1P3p/pP6/P1N3Pb/R2P1P1P/2B3K1 w - - 2 25

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