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

Rating 1927 · Advanced · advantage, long, middlegame, skewer.

Position

White: king g1; queen b2; rooks b1/b5; bishops e2/e3; knight g3; pawns a4/d4/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a7; rooks c7/f8; bishop e7; knights c6/g6; pawns b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxb7 — rook b5→b7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxb7 — rook c7→b7, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxb7 (queen b2→b7, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Rb8 — rook f8→b8. Opponent replies Qxc6 (queen b7→c6, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Rxb1+ — rook b8→b1, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, skewer. The key move Rxb1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/qpr1bppp/2n1p1n1/1R1pP3/P2P4/4B1N1/1Q2BPPP/1R4K1 w - - 7 20

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