Chess Puzzle #LEU5q — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks c1/f1; bishop b1; knight e4; pawns b2/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d4; rooks c8/f8; bishop e7; knight b6; pawns a6/b5/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen d4→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxb6 — queen e3→b6, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxc1 (rook c8→c1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxc1 — rook f1→c1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Qxb6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/4bp1p/pn2p1p1/1p2P3/3qN3/4Q3/1P3PPP/1BR2RK1 b - - 1 24

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