Chess Puzzle #9dF7c — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1712 · Advanced · defensive move, equality, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king f1; queen c1; rook b2; knights e4/f3; pawns d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h7; queen b4; rook g8; bishops e7/f5; pawns c4/d6/e5/f4/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qa3 — queen b4→a3. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
  3. Best move: Nxg8 — knight f6→g8, captures rook. Opponent replies Bd3+ (bishop f5→d3, gives check).
  4. Best move: Kg1 — king f1→g1.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, long, middlegame. The key move is Nf6+.

Position data

FEN: 6r1/4b2k/3p3p/3Ppb2/1qp1Np2/5N1P/1R3PP1/2Q2K2 b - - 1 37

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.