Chess Puzzle #CeQ4B — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen c5; rooks a1/h1; bishop d3; knights f4/g5; pawns a4/b2/f2/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishop g4; knights b6/c6; pawns a5/b7/c7/d4/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd7 — knight b6→d7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bh7+ — bishop d3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Nxf7+ — knight g5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king h8→h7, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Qc2+ — queen c5→c2, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
5. Best move: Nxd8 — knight f7→d8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Nxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2qr1k1/1pp2pp1/1nn4p/p1Q3N1/P2p1NbP/3B4/1P3PP1/R4K1R b - - 3 20

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