Chess Puzzle #rq4X4 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2318 · Expert · advantage, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop c4; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/c3/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e4; rooks a8/f8; bishop e5; knight d4; pawns a7/b7/c5/d6/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf5 — knight d4→f5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rf4 — rook f1→f4. Opponent replies Bxf4 (bishop e5→f4, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Nf6+ — knight d5→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
  4. Best move: Nxe4 — knight f6→e4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move is Rf4.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pp3p2/3p2pp/2pNb3/2Bnq3/2P3P1/PP5P/R2Q1RK1 b - - 0 21

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