Chess Puzzle #5uwj2 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen e4; rook c1; bishop e3; knight g1; pawns a2/b4/d5/f3/h2. Black: king f8; queen h1; rooks a8/h8; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c6/f6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd7 — knight b8→d7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: dxc6 — pawn d5→c6, captures pawn. Opponent replies bxc6 (pawn b7→c6, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qxc6 — queen e4→c6, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move dxc6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: rn3k1r/pp3ppp/2p2p2/3P4/1P2Q3/4BP2/P6P/2R1K1Nq b - - 0 14

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