To an American ear, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu rolls off the tongue like a mouth full of pebbles. At 20 years of age “Pragg” has established himself as one of the world’s top players. Pragg bounced back this month from his poor performance in the Candidates Tournament by winning the Norway Chess 2026 Chess Tournament. In doing so, he defeated the reigning World Champion D. Gukesh and twice beat the world’s top rated player M. Carlsen.

This week’s position is from one of Pragg’s wins against Carlsen. Here, Carlsen, who is white, resigned in lieu of being checkmated by black’s coordinated queen and bishop. With this hint, please find black’s first and subsequent moves.

Black’s first move is queen to d2, check. If white’s king flees to f3, bishop to e4 delivers checkmate. If instead the white king runs to f1, black’s bishop checks from d3, forcing the king to g1. Black’s queen then checks from e1 (see next diagram)

If now white’s king moves to g2, white’s bishop checks from e4 and forces the king to h2 or h3. Either way, black’s queen mates from h1 (see next diagram).

After queen to d2, check, the white king may also retreat to g1. Black’s queen then checks from e1. If the king escapes to g2, black mates like in diagram 3. Escaping to h2 causes the black queen to check from f2. King to h1 allows bishop to e4, mate, and king to h3 allows bishop to f5, mate (see next diagram).

Pragg was very humble in victory and earned praises from both Carlsen and Gukesh. Both on and away from the chess board, Pragg is short for class act.

Reach Eric Morrow at ericmorrowlaw@gmail.com or (505) 327-7121.