Chess Puzzle #1iVgW — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1039 · Beginner · advanced pawn, advantage, clearance, endgame, promotion, short.

Position

White: king h1; rook f8; knight d5; pawns a4/c4/f7/g2/h3. Black: king d6; rook h6; bishops a5/e6; knight c5; pawn a7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxd5 — bishop e6→d5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook f8→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Bxd8 (bishop a5→d8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: f8=Q+ — pawn f7→f8, promotes to queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, clearance, endgame, promotion, short. The key move is Rd8+.

Position data

FEN: 5R2/p4P2/3kb2r/b1nN4/P1P5/7P/6P1/7K b - - 0 40

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