Chess Puzzle #D4Ex2 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/b1; bishop e3; knight h4; pawns a3/d4/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks c8/f8; knights b5/e7; pawns a6/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc3 — rook c8→c3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc3 — queen d3→c3, captures rook. Opponent replies Nxc3 (knight b5→c3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxb6 — rook b1→b6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/4nppp/pq2p3/1n1pP3/3P3N/P2QB3/5PPP/RR4K1 b - - 1 20

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