Chess Puzzle #1wX75 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen b3; rooks b1/e1; knight g4; pawns g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c5; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; pawns b5/c7/e6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf5 — queen c5→f5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nh6+ — knight g4→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
3. Best move: Nxf5+ — knight h6→f5, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Nxf5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/2p4p/4p1p1/1pq5/6N1/1Q6/6PP/1R2R2K b - - 1 24

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