Chess Puzzle #5Q9M8 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks e2/f1; bishop g2; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/g3/h3. Black: king h8; queen h5; rooks e5/f8; knights c6/g4; pawns b6/c7/f2/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxf2 — knight e4→f2, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nxf2+ — knight g4→f2, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Rexf2 (rook e2→f2, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rxf2 — rook f8→f2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Nxf2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/2p3pp/1pn5/4r2q/4N1n1/6PP/PP2RpB1/3Q1R1K w - - 1 27

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