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

Position

White: king g1; queen b1; rooks c1/c2; knight c5; pawns b4/d4/f2/g2. Black: king h7; queen b5; rooks c4/c8; bishop g7; pawns c3/d5/g4/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxb4 — rook c4→b4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rb2+ — rook c2→b2, gives check. Opponent replies c2 (pawn c3→c2).
3. Best move: Rcxc2 — rook c1→c2, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, middlegame, short. The key move is Rb2+.

Position data

FEN: 2r5/6bk/7p/1qNp4/1PrP2p1/2p5/2R2PP1/1QR3K1 b - - 0 38

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