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

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishop c1; pawns a4/b5/c2/d2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c4; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knight e7; pawns d4/d7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxa4 — rook a8→a4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: d3 — pawn d2→d3. Opponent replies Qxb5 (queen c4→b5, captures pawn).
3. Best move: c4 — pawn c2→c4.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move is d3.

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/3pnppp/4p3/1P6/P1qpP3/8/2PP1PPP/R1BQR1K1 b kq - 0 14

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