Chess Puzzle #Dryp4 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d4; rooks a1/f1; bishop c3; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c2/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks a8/f8; bishops e6/e7; knights f7/g6; pawns a7/b7/d6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bf6 — bishop e7→f6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight e4→f6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxf6 — queen d4→f6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nfe5 (knight f7→e5).
4. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen f6→e6, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Nxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pp2bnpp/2qpb1n1/8/3QNP2/2B5/PPP3PP/R4R1K b - - 5 20

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