Chess Puzzle #qXsD6 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2395 · Expert · equality, intermezzo, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks d1/e1; bishop d4; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/g4/h3. Black: king f8; queen a5; rooks e6/h8; bishop f4; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf6 — bishop d4→f6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxe1+ — rook e6→e1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe1 (rook d1→e1, captures rook).
  3. Best move: gxf6 — pawn g7→f6, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, intermezzo, middlegame, short. The key move Rxe1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5k1r/ppp2pp1/4rn1p/q7/3B1bP1/2NQ3P/PPP5/3RR1K1 w - - 0 21

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