Chess Puzzle #7ks69 — Advanced, White to move, opening

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/b1; bishops b3/d2; knight f3; pawns a2/c3/d4/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a3; rooks a8/d8; bishops c8/g7; knight a5; pawns a7/b7/c5/e7/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxb3 — knight a5→b3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: axb3 — pawn a2→b3, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxa1 (queen a3→a1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxa1 — rook b1→a1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, short, trapped piece. The key move axb3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1br2k1/pp2ppbp/6p1/n1p5/3P4/qBP1PN1P/P2BQPP1/RR4K1 b - - 6 14

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