Chess Puzzle #8h8Il — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a2; queen a5; rooks d1/e1; knight b3; pawns a3/b2/c4/g3/h2. Black: king c7; queen e6; rook b6; bishop g6; knight e2; pawns a6/b7/d3/f6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc4 — queen e6→c4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc1 — rook d1→c1. Opponent replies Nxc1+ (knight e2→c1, captures rook, gives check).
3. Best move: Rxc1 — rook e1→c1, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, short. The key move is Rc1.

Position data

FEN: 8/1pk3pp/pr2qpb1/Q7/2P5/PN1p2P1/KP2n2P/3RR3 b - - 7 31

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