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

Rating 1954 · Advanced · discovered attack, equality, kingside attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king h1; queen d3; rooks e1/f1; knights c3/f4; pawns a3/b2/c4/d5/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen e5; rooks a8/f8; bishops c5/c8; pawns a5/b7/c7/d6/e4/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe4 — rook e1→e4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Bf5 — bishop c8→f5. Opponent replies Ne6 (knight f4→e6).
  3. Best move: Bxe4 — bishop f5→e4, captures rook. Opponent replies Nxe4 (knight c3→e4, captures bishop).
  4. Best move: Rxf1+ — rook f8→f1, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, equality, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Rxf1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2r1k/1pp4p/3p4/p1bPq3/2P1pN2/P1NQ3P/1P4P1/4RR1K w - - 0 21

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