Chess Puzzle #5AbOV — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; knight g4; pawns a2/b3/f3/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d8; knight f4; pawns e5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen e2→e5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qd1+ — queen d8→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king g1→f2).
3. Best move: Nd3+ — knight f4→d3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg3 (king f2→g3).
4. Best move: Nxe5 — knight d3→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, long. The key move is Qd1+.

Position data

FEN: 3q3k/6pp/8/4p3/5nN1/1P3P2/P3Q1PP/6K1 w - - 0 30

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