Chess Puzzle #K44C7 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2524 · Master · advantage, clearance, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g2; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; knight f3; pawns a2/c2/c3/d6/f2/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen c4; rooks a8/h8; knight e7; pawns a7/b6/c7/d7/e5/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nc8 — knight e7→c8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxe5 — knight f3→e5, captures pawn. Opponent replies fxe5 (pawn f6→e5, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qh5+ — queen d1→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
  4. Best move: Qf3+ — queen h5→f3, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, clearance, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Nxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/p1ppn1pp/1p1P1p2/4p3/2q5/2P2NP1/P1P2PKP/R2QR3 b kq - 0 18

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.