Chess Puzzle #2EIlw — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rooks e1/e6; knight g5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen c7; rooks a8/h6; bishops b8/c8; pawns a5/b6/c6/f5/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxe6 — bishop c8→e6, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe6+ — knight g5→e6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe6 (rook h6→e6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rxe6 — rook e1→e6, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxh2+ (queen c7→h2, captures pawn, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxh2 — queen h4→h2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Nxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rbb2k2/2q5/1pp1R2r/p4pNp/3P3Q/2P5/PP3PPP/4R1K1 b - - 0 22

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