Chess Puzzle #IE2B5 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d2; rooks d1/d5; bishop g2; pawns f4/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen c5; rooks c3/f8; knight c7; pawns e4/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd5 — queen c5→d5, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc3+ — queen d2→c3, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
3. Best move: Rxd5 — rook d1→d5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, fork, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/2n4p/6p1/2qR1p2/4pP2/2r3P1/3Q2BP/3R3K b - - 0 32

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