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

Rating 1924 · Advanced · advantage, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen b1; rooks c1/c6; bishop g2; knight f1; pawns a2/d3/e2/e3/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks d8/f8; bishop e7; knight c5; pawns a7/b4/b5/e5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rc8 — rook d8→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc8 — rook c6→c8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook f8→c8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: d4 — pawn d3→d4. Opponent replies exd4 (pawn e5→d4, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: exd4 — pawn e3→d4, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Rxc8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/p3bppp/2R5/qpn1p3/1p6/3PP1P1/P3P1BP/1QR2NK1 b - - 5 25

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