Chess Puzzle #28Av5 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen g7; rook f6; knight d4; pawns a5/b2/c3/g2/h3. Black: king a7; queen d6; rook a8; bishop c8; knight d3; pawns a6/b7/d5/e5/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc5 — queen d6→c5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nc6+ — knight d4→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc6 (queen c5→c6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rxc6 — rook f6→c6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, master, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Nc6+.

Position data

FEN: r1b5/kp4Q1/p2q1R1p/P2pp3/3N4/2Pn3P/1P4P1/7K b - - 1 30

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