Chess Puzzle #to3u5 — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 2508 · Master · crushing, endgame, quiet move, short.

Position

White: king e4; queen b6; rook b1; pawns a7/b3/e3/h3. Black: king g7; rooks c3/e2; bishop e5; pawns d6/f5/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kf3 — king e4→f3. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Rcc2 — rook c3→c2. Opponent replies Qc7+ (queen b6→c7, gives check).
  3. Best move: Rxc7 — rook c2→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, quiet move, short. The key move is Rcc2.

Position data

FEN: 8/P5kp/1Q1p2p1/4bp2/4K3/1Pr1P2P/4r3/1R6 w - - 0 35

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.

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