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

Rating 1613 · Advanced · crushing, deflection, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen h7; rooks a1/f1; bishop d3; knight d4; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f7; queen b6; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/g7; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rh8 — rook f8→h8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg6+ — queen h7→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king f7→f8).
  3. Best move: Nxe6+ — knight d4→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe6 (queen b6→e6, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Qxe6 — queen g6→e6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, long, middlegame. The key move Nxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2r2/pp1n1kbQ/1q2p3/3p4/3N4/2PB4/PP3PPP/R4RK1 b - - 4 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.