Chess Puzzle #3yGp6 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks c1/f1; bishop g2; knight d2; pawns a2/d3/f3/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop c3; knight c6; pawns a7/b5/c5/g6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd3 — queen d8→d3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb3+ — queen d1→b3, gives check. Opponent replies c4 (pawn c5→c4).
3. Best move: Qxc3 — queen b3→c3, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxc3 (queen d3→c3, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxc3 — rook c1→c3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame. The key move is Qb3+.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/p5pp/2n3p1/1pp5/8/2bP1PP1/P2N2BP/2RQ1RK1 b - - 1 18

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