Chess Puzzle #sR2Av — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rook f1; knight h2; pawns a2/a4/c4/d3/f6/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen b2; rook b8; bishop e5; pawns a7/c5/c6/d6/f7/g4/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa2 — queen b2→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxg4 — knight h2→g4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rb2 (rook b8→b2).
3. Best move: Qf3 — queen d1→f3.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, master, master vs master, short. The key move Nxg4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/p4p2/2pp1P2/2p1b2p/P1P3pP/3P4/Pq4PN/3Q1RK1 b - - 2 27

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