Chess Puzzle #IOU2U — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b4; rooks a1/b6; knight f1; pawns b5/d4/e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e2; rooks a8/f5; pawns a7/f6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe1 — queen b4→e1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxe1 — queen e2→e1, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxe1 (rook a1→e1, captures queen).
3. Best move: axb6 — pawn a7→b6, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe1 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/p4pp1/1R3p1p/1P3r2/1Q1P4/4P1P1/4qP1P/R4NK1 w - - 1 25

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