Chess Puzzle #E6xlz — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; knight d5; pawns b3/c4/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b2; bishop g7; pawns a6/b7/c5/f6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb3 — queen b2→b3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne7+ — knight d5→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
3. Best move: Qd6 — queen f4→d6. Opponent replies Qd1+ (queen b3→d1, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxd1 — queen d6→d1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move is Ne7+.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/1p3pbp/p4pp1/2pN4/2P1PQ2/1P5P/1q3PP1/6K1 b - - 1 22

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