Chess Puzzle #Fu9ln — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; rook b1; knight c4; pawns d3/f3/g2/h3. Black: king f7; rook d2; bishop h4; pawns a3/d4/e5/f5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd3 — rook d2→d3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe5+ — knight c4→e5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke6 (king f7→e6).
3. Best move: Nxd3 — knight e5→d3, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, fork, short. The key move Nxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/5kpp/8/4pp2/2Np3b/p2P1P1P/3r2P1/1R3K2 b - - 1 35

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