Chess Puzzle #55r5B — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1063 · Beginner · advantage, kingside attack, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king e1; queen c3; rooks a1/g1; bishop b2; knight e4; pawns a2/c4/e2/f2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks d8/f8; bishop e7; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: a5 — pawn a7→a5. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight e4→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen c6→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxf6 — queen c3→f6, captures queen. Opponent replies Bxf6 (bishop e7→f6, captures queen).
  4. Best move: Bxf6 — bishop b2→f6, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Nxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/ppp1bp2/2q2np1/7p/2P1N3/2Q4P/PB2PP2/R3K1R1 b Q - 1 20

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.