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

Rating 2000 · Expert · advantage, middlegame, very long.

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rooks d3/e1; knight d4; pawns c3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks c8/d5; bishop h5; pawns c6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxc6 — knight d4→c6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rxd3 — rook d5→d3, captures rook. Opponent replies Ne7+ (knight c6→e7, gives check).
  3. Best move: Qxe7 — queen f6→e7, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxc8+ (queen c4→c8, captures rook, gives check).
  4. Best move: Rd8 — rook d3→d8. Opponent replies Rxe7 (rook e1→e7, captures queen).
  5. Best move: Rxc8 — rook d8→c8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxd3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/5pp1/2p2q1p/3r3b/2QN4/2PR3P/5PP1/4R1K1 w - - 0 25

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