Chess Puzzle #fo8fZ — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks d1/f1; bishop f2; knights c1/f3; pawns a3/d3/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks c8/d7; bishop e7; knights b4/f5; pawns a6/b5/d4/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc3 — rook c8→c3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc3 — queen b3→c3, captures rook. Opponent replies dxc3 (pawn d4→c3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Bxb6 — bishop f2→b6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/3rbpp1/pq2p2p/1p2Pn2/1n1p1P2/PQ1P1N2/5BPP/2NR1RK1 b - - 0 23

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