Chess Puzzle #E0MHo — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g6; rook a1; bishop g5; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/f2. Black: king e7; queen h3; rooks a8/h8; knight f7; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxg5 — knight f7→g5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxd5+ — knight c3→d5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies cxd5 (pawn c6→d5, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxg5+ — queen g6→g5, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king e7→f7).
4. Best move: Qf4+ — queen g5→f4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg6 (king f7→g6).
5. Best move: Qd6+ — queen f4→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf5 (king g6→f5).
6. Best move: Qxd5+ — queen d6→d5, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, exposed king, intermezzo, middlegame, very long. The key move Nxd5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r6r/pp2kn2/2p3Q1/3p2B1/8/2N4q/PP3P2/R5K1 b - - 1 19

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