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

Rating 1978 · Advanced · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen c5; rooks d1/e1; bishop g5; knights b5/d4; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f8; rooks c8/e7; bishops e6/g7; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe6 — knight d4→e6, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxc5 — rook c8→c5, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxf8 (knight e6→f8, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe1 — rook e7→e1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Rxc5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r2qk1/pp2rpbp/4bnp1/1NQ3B1/3N4/8/PPP2PPP/2KRR3 w - - 6 20

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