Chess Puzzle #4mdwV — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h3; rooks c1/f1; bishop g2; knight d1; pawns a3/b4/c2/e5/f4/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen g7; rooks a8/f8; bishop b6; knights f5/h7; pawns a5/b5/c6/d5/e6/f7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne3 — knight f5→e3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe3 — knight d1→e3, captures knight. Opponent replies axb4 (pawn a5→b4, captures pawn).
3. Best move: axb4 — pawn a3→b4, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Nxe3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/5pqn/1bp1p3/pp1pPn2/1P3PP1/P6Q/2P3BP/2RN1R1K b - - 0 23

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