SIX POSITION CHESS DIAGNOSTIC QUESTIONS
No app, account or installation is needed. Set up a physical board using each piece list. No castling or en passant rights in any position.

1. Hanging piece - White to move
White: king g1, rook d1, pawns f2 g2 h2. Black: king g8, bishop d5, pawns f7 g7 h7.
FEN: 6k1/5ppp/8/3b4/8/8/5PPP/3R2K1 w - - 0 1
Which black piece is undefended? Capture it with the rook. Can Black immediately recapture your rook?

2. Knight fork - White to move
White: king g1, knight d6, pawns f2 g2 h2. Black: king h8, rook d8, pawns g7 h7.
FEN: 3r3k/6pp/3N4/8/8/8/5PPP/6K1 w - - 0 1
Move the knight so it checks the king and attacks the rook. Find Black's only legal reply, then capture the rook.

3. Absolute pin - Black to move
White: king g1, rook e1, pawns g2 h2. Black: king e8, knight e7.
FEN: 4k3/4n3/8/8/8/8/6PP/4R1K1 b - - 0 1
Can Black legally play ...Nc8? Explain what would happen to the king. Name one legal Black move instead.

4. Back rank mate - White to move
White: king g1, rook e1, pawns f2 g2 h2. Black: king g8, pawns f7 g7 h7.
FEN: 6k1/5ppp/8/8/8/8/5PPP/4R1K1 w - - 0 1
Give checkmate in one move with the rook. Explain why Black cannot capture, block or escape the check.

5. Stalemate trap - White to move
White: king f6, queen f7. Black: king h8.
FEN: 7k/5Q2/5K2/8/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1
Compare 1. Qg6 and 1. Qg7. Which move stalemates Black, and which move checkmates? Check every king escape.

6. Protected promotion - White to move
White: king f7, pawn g7. Black: king h7.
FEN: 8/5KPk/8/8/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1
Promote the pawn to a queen. Can Black capture the new queen? Name Black's legal reply to the check.

