Chess Puzzle #16itZ — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 708 · Beginner · crushing, endgame, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen d3; rook d5; knight c3; pawns b2/f2/g4/h3. Black: king h8; queen c7; rook a8; bishop g7; pawns b6/b7/e5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc6 — queen c7→c6. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d5→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Qe8 (queen c6→e8).
  3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook d8→e8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, short. The key move Rxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r6k/1pq3bp/1p4p1/3Rp3/6P1/2NQ3P/1P3P2/1K6 b - - 3 27

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