Chess Puzzle #CMklf — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c1; rook a1; bishop g2; knight f3; pawns e4/f2/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen a4; rook b3; bishop e6; knight f7; pawns b7/d4/e5/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc3 — rook b3→c3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc3 — queen c1→c3, captures rook. Opponent replies dxc3 (pawn d4→c3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxa4 — rook a1→a4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/1p3npp/4bp2/4p3/q2pP1P1/1r3N1P/5PB1/R1Q3K1 b - - 1 32

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