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

Rating 1310 · Intermediate · crushing, deflection, endgame, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen b2; rook d1; knight f3; pawns b4/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c4; rook c8; knight e2; pawns b6/e6/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc2 — queen c4→c2. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook c8→d8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxc2 — queen b2→c2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, short. The key move is Rd8+.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/5p1p/1p2p1p1/8/1Pq5/4PN1P/1Q2nPP1/3R3K b - - 0 29

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