Chess Puzzle #4ccwd — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1373 · Intermediate · advantage, deflection, endgame, short.

Position

White: king c1; queen b4; rooks d3/h1; pawns a2/b2/c3/e4/g5/h4. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/c8; pawns a6/b7/e5/e6/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qc4 — queen c7→c4. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d3→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook c8→d8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxc4 — queen b4→c4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1r3k1/1pq2p2/p3p1p1/4p1Pp/1Q2P2P/2PR4/PP6/2K4R b - - 1 24

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