Chess Puzzle #FILzg — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1491 · Intermediate · attraction, crushing, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king h2; queen g5; rooks a1/e1; knights c5/e5; pawns a2/b3/c2/d3/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g7; queen b5; rooks e8/f8; bishop d7; knight f6; pawns a7/c6/d4/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxc5 — queen b5→c5, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qxf6+ — queen g5→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf6 (king g7→f6, captures queen).
  3. Best move: Nxd7+ — knight e5→d7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f6→e7).
  4. Best move: Nxc5 — knight d7→c5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4rr2/p2b1pkp/2p2np1/1qN1N1Q1/3pP3/1P1P3P/P1P2PPK/R3R3 b - - 0 22

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

Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.