Chess Puzzle #7Was9 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b1; rook f1; bishop a3; knight f3; pawns a2/c2/c3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b8; rook e8; bishop c6; knight f4; pawns c7/e6/f5/g7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxf3 — bishop c6→f3, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxb8 — queen b1→b8, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxb8 (rook e8→b8, captures queen).
3. Best move: gxf3 — pawn g2→f3, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, intermezzo, middlegame, short. The key move Qxb8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1q2r1k1/2p3p1/2b1p2p/5p2/3P1n2/B1P2N2/P1P2PPP/1Q3RK1 b - - 1 20

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