Chess Puzzle #1IZyu — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; rooks d1/e1; bishop c2; knight f3; pawns a2/c3/d5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; rooks a8/h8; bishop b7; knight c4; pawns a7/c5/c7/d7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nb2 — knight c4→b2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rb1 — rook d1→b1. Opponent replies Bxd5 (bishop b7→d5, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Rxb2 — rook b1→b2, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Rb1.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/pbpp1ppp/4p3/2pP4/2n5/2P2N2/P1B2PPP/3RR1K1 b kq - 1 15

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.