Chess Puzzle #3NcQJ — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1347 · Intermediate · crushing, defensive move, endgame, queen rook endgame, short.

Position

White: king g2; rooks d1/d8; pawns b2/f4/h3. Black: king h5; queen c5; pawns b3/e4/f5/g6/h4. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc2+ — queen c5→c2, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: R1d2 — rook d1→d2. Opponent replies Qxd2+ (queen c2→d2, captures rook, gives check).
  3. Best move: Rxd2 — rook d8→d2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, queen rook endgame, short. The key move is R1d2.

Position data

FEN: 3R4/8/6p1/2q2p1k/4pP1p/1p5P/1P4K1/3R4 b - - 0 50

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