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

Rating 1657 · Advanced · advantage, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king b1; queen c1; rooks d3/h1; bishop d2; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f3/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen b4; rooks c3/c8; bishop e7; knight f6; pawns a4/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxc2 — rook c3→c2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc2 — queen c1→c2, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxc2 (rook c8→c2, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Bxb4 — bishop d2→b4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/1p2bppp/4pn2/3p4/pq1P2P1/2rR1P1P/PPPB4/1KQ4R b - - 1 20

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

Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.