Chess Puzzle #Lavw5 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h2; bishop d4; knight g5; pawns a4/b5/e5/f2. Black: king g8; queen c7; bishop e6; knight c5; pawns a5/b6/d5/f7/g4/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne4 — knight c5→e4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h2→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
3. Best move: Nxe6+ — knight g5→e6, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, master, short. The key move Nxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/2q2p2/1p2b1p1/pPnpP1N1/P2B2p1/8/5P1Q/6K1 b - - 1 35

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