Chess Puzzle #LSd3p — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen e1; rook c2; bishop d5; knights c7/h2; pawns a3/b2/e4/f3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b7; rooks c8/f8; bishops a6/e3; pawns a7/b6/d4/d6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qb8 — queen b7→b8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxa6 — knight c7→a6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxc2 (rook c8→c2, captures rook).
3. Best move: Nxb8 — knight a6→b8, captures queen. Opponent replies Rc1 (rook c2→c1).
4. Best move: Qxc1 — queen e1→c1, captures rook. Opponent replies Bxc1 (bishop e3→c1, captures queen).
5. Best move: Nc6 — knight b8→c6.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, middlegame, trapped piece, very long. The key move Nxa6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/pqN2pp1/bp1p3p/3B4/3pP3/P3bP1P/1PR3PN/4Q2K b - - 7 28

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