Chess Puzzle #1K4ly — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e7; rooks c1/e1; knight f3; pawns d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c4; rooks a4/a8; bishop f5; pawns c7/e4/f6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd5 — queen c4→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc7 — rook c1→c7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qd7 (queen d5→d7).
3. Best move: Rxd7 — rook c7→d7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move Rxc7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/2p1Q1p1/5p1p/3P1b2/r1q1p3/5N1P/5PP1/2R1R1K1 b - - 1 27

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