Chess Puzzle #4irmw — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d5; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/g2; pawns b2/c6/d4/e2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks a8/f8; bishops a6/e7; knight b8; pawns a7/f7/g5/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc6 — knight b8→c6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc6 — queen d5→c6, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxc6 (queen b6→c6, captures queen).
3. Best move: Bxc6 — bishop g2→c6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: rn3rk1/p3bpp1/bqP5/3Q2p1/3P4/6P1/1P2PPBP/R1B2RK1 b - - 0 15

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