Chess Puzzle #9NeD7 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen b2; rook a1; bishops b6/e2; knight d3; pawns c3/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks a8/h8; bishops e7/f5; pawns a5/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rb8 — rook a8→b8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bxc7 — bishop b6→c7, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxb2 (rook b8→b2, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxb2 — knight d3→b2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Bxc7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/2q1bppp/1B2p3/p2pPb2/8/2PN4/1Q2BPPP/R4K2 b kq - 0 23

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