Chess Puzzle #JXd98 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a1; queen a3; rooks c1/e1; bishop f3; knight c3; pawns c2/d5/f5/g5/h5. Black: king h8; queen c4; rooks b4/b8; knight g8; pawns a5/d6/e5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Na2 — knight c3→a2. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ra4 — rook b4→a4. Opponent replies Be2 (bishop f3→e2).
3. Best move: Qd4+ — queen c4→d4, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, short. The key move is Ra4.

Position data

FEN: 1r4nk/5ppp/3p4/p2PpPPP/1rq5/Q1N2B2/2P5/K1R1R3 w - - 7 32

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