Chess Puzzle #5mJnt — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2492 · Master · advantage, discovered attack, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rooks a1/d1; bishop f4; knight e5; pawns a2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c8; rooks a8/e8; bishops e7/g4; pawns a7/c6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Bxd1 — bishop g4→d1, captures rook. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf7 — knight e5→f7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Bh5 (bishop d1→h5).
  3. Best move: Nd6+ — knight f7→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
  4. Best move: Nxc8 — knight d6→c8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Nxf7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1q1r1k1/p3bppp/2p5/4N3/2Q2Bb1/2P5/P4PPP/R2R2K1 b - - 1 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.