Chess Puzzle #mVvR0 — Advanced, Black to move, opening

Rating 1950 · Advanced · advantage, middlegame, sacrifice, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks a1/e1; bishops c1/d3; knights b1/e5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king d8; queen d5; rooks a8/e8; bishops g4/h6; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nc3 — knight b1→c3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe5 — rook e8→e5, captures knight. Opponent replies Nxd5 (knight c3→d5, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Rxe1+ — rook e5→e1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bf1 (bishop d3→f1).
  4. Best move: Be2 — bishop g4→e2. Opponent replies Qxc7+ (queen g3→c7, captures pawn, gives check).
  5. Best move: Ke8 — king d8→e8. Opponent replies Nxf6+ (knight d5→f6, captures knight, gives check).
  6. Best move: gxf6 — pawn g7→f6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxe1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2kr3/ppp2ppp/2n2n1b/3qN3/6b1/3B2Q1/PPPP1PPP/RNB1R1K1 w - - 4 12

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