Chess Puzzle #cLI6O — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2018 · Expert · castling, equality, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks c1/e1; bishops b5/f4; pawns a2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen f6; rooks a8/h8; bishop e6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc6 — rook c1→c6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: O-O — king e8→g8. Opponent replies Rxd6 (rook c6→d6, captures pawn).
  3. Best move: Qxf4 — queen f6→f4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

castling, equality, middlegame, short. The key move is O-O.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/pp3ppp/2ppbq2/1B6/5B2/8/P4PPP/2RQR1K1 w kq - 4 17

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