Chess Puzzle #2vjVQ — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1518 · Intermediate · advantage, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e6; bishop c1; knight h4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king f8; queen c7; rooks a8/h8; bishops b7/e7; knight f6; pawns a6/b5/c5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bd5 — bishop b7→d5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Ng6+ — knight h4→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king f8→f7).
  3. Best move: Rxe7+ — rook e6→e7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe7 (queen c7→e7, captures rook).
  4. Best move: Nxe7 — knight g6→e7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Rxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4k1r/1bq1b1p1/p3Rn1p/1pp5/7N/3P3P/PPP2PP1/R1BQ2K1 b - - 0 18

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

Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.