Chess Puzzle #xpJ8l — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2240 · Expert · advantage, middlegame, pin, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops f4/h5; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/e5/g3. Black: king f7; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops f5/g5; knights b8/g6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxf4 — bishop g5→f4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf4 — rook f1→f4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qg5 (queen d8→g5).
  3. Best move: Qf3 — queen d1→f3.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Rxf4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: rn1q3r/ppp2k2/6np/3pPbbB/3P1B2/6P1/PPP5/RN1Q1RK1 b - - 4 14

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