Chess Puzzle #8ZxKn — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rook a1; bishops c4/d2; knight a4; pawns a2/e4/f2/f3/h2. Black: king e8; queen a3; rooks a8/h8; knights b8/g8; pawns a7/b7/e7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxf3 — queen a3→f3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Be2 — bishop c4→e2. Opponent replies Qh3 (queen f3→h3).
3. Best move: Qb2 — queen c2→b2. Opponent replies Nf6 (knight g8→f6).
4. Best move: Qxb7 — queen b2→b7, captures pawn. Opponent replies O-O (king e8→g8).
5. Best move: Qxa8 — queen b7→a8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, trapped piece, very long. The key move is Be2.

Position data

FEN: rn2k1nr/pp2pp1p/6p1/8/N1B1P3/q4P2/P1QB1P1P/R5K1 b kq - 0 16

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