Chess Puzzle #NIWKe — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen c2; bishops b2/c4; knight f3; pawns a3/b4/c5/e4/f2/g3. Black: king g8; rooks d7/d8; bishop h6; knight g4; pawns a7/b7/c6/e5/f7/g6/h5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight f3→e5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ne3+ — knight g4→e3, gives check. Opponent replies fxe3 (pawn f2→e3, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rd2+ — rook d7→d2, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd2 (queen c2→d2, captures rook).
4. Best move: Rxd2+ — rook d8→d2, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxd2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/pp1r1p2/2p3pb/2P1p2p/1PB1P1n1/P4NP1/1BQ2PK1/8 w - - 9 30

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