Chess Puzzle #W2pUD — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1962 · Advanced · capturing the defender, crushing, deflection, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king e1; queen e2; rooks b1/h1; bishop e4; knight f3; pawns a2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen c3; rooks d8/e8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nd2 — knight f3→d2. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd2 — rook d8→d2, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxd2 (queen e2→d2, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rxe4+ — rook e8→e4, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kd1 (king e1→d1).
  4. Best move: Rd4 — rook e4→d4.

Tactical themes

capturing the defender, crushing, deflection, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Rxe4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1k1rr3/pp3ppp/2n5/8/4B3/2q2N2/P1P1QPPP/1R2K2R w K - 0 18

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