Chess Puzzle #50X8L — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1078 · Beginner · advantage, deflection, endgame, short.

Position

White: king h2; queen d3; rook e1; bishops d4/f3; pawns a3/b2/f2/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen d7; rook d8; knight g6; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxd4 — queen d7→d4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxd4 — queen d3→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, endgame, short. The key move is Re8+.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/pp1q1ppp/2p3n1/8/3B4/P2Q1BPP/1P3P1K/4R3 b - - 0 23

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