Chess Puzzle #DehdE — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop e3; knight d5; pawns b3/c4/d4/e5/f2/g3. Black: king g8; queen c8; rooks b6/f8; bishop g7; knight g4; pawns a6/c5/d6/e7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe3 — knight g4→e3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe7+ — knight d5→e7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Nxc8 — knight e7→c8, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxd1 (knight e3→d1, captures queen).
4. Best move: Nxb6 — knight c8→b6, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Nxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2q2rk1/4ppbp/pr1p2p1/2pNP3/2PP2n1/1P2B1P1/5P2/R2Q1RK1 b - - 0 20

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