Chess Puzzle #6jJGj — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen g2; rooks f1/h6; bishop d2; knights e2/g1; pawns a3/b2/c2. Black: king g8; queen g7; rooks a8/f8; bishops d4/g4; knight e5; pawns a6/b7/c6/d5/f7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nc4 — knight e5→c4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxd4 — knight e2→d4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxd4 (queen g7→d4, captures knight).
3. Best move: Bc3 — bishop d2→c3. Opponent replies Qe3+ (queen d4→e3, gives check).
4. Best move: Kb1 — king c1→b1. Opponent replies Qxh6 (queen e3→h6, captures rook).
5. Best move: Qxg4+ — queen g2→g4, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxg4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1p3pq1/p1p4R/3pn3/3b2b1/P7/1PPBN1Q1/2K2RN1 b - - 3 23

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