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

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; knight e4; pawns b2/f3/g2/h2. Black: king a6; queen a5; bishop e6; pawns a7/b6/c6/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: b5 — pawn b6→b5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nc5+ — knight e4→c5, gives check. Opponent replies Kb6 (king a6→b6).
3. Best move: Qd8+ — queen d3→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxc5 (king b6→c5, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qxa5 — queen d8→a5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, long, skewer. The key move is Nc5+.

Position data

FEN: 8/p4p2/kpp1b1pp/q7/4N3/3Q1P2/1P4PP/6K1 b - - 23 41

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