Chess Puzzle #3psv0 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen e2; rooks f1/h1; bishop c3; knight d6; pawns a4/c5/d4/e3/g3. Black: king e7; queen g5; rooks a8/h8; bishop c7; knight d5; pawns a7/b7/c6/e4/f7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe3+ — knight d5→e3, captures pawn, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe3 — queen e2→e3, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxe3 (queen g5→e3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nf5+ — knight d6→f5, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e7→d7).
4. Best move: Nxe3 — knight f5→e3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxe3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r6r/ppb1kp2/2pN4/2Pn2q1/P2Pp3/2B1P1P1/4Q1K1/5R1R b - - 2 28

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