Chess Puzzle #1it0F — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; rooks e1/f1; bishops b2/f7; knight e6; pawns a2/c3/f2/g3/h4. Black: king d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops b6/c6; knight g4; pawns a5/b7/c7/d6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kd7 — king d8→d7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxf8+ — knight e6→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook a8→f8, captures knight).
3. Best move: Be6+ — bishop f7→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king d7→d8).
4. Best move: Bxg4 — bishop e6→g4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, clearance, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Nxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2k1r2/1pp2Bpp/1bbpN3/p7/6nP/2P3P1/PB3P2/4RRK1 b - - 0 22

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