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

Position

White: king b1; queen e2; rooks h1/h3; knight d2; pawns a3/b2/c3/d4/e4/g2/g4. Black: king e7; queen f7; rook b8; bishop g6; knight b5; pawns a4/a6/c7/e5/f6/g5. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nc4 — knight d2→c4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxc4 — queen f7→c4, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxc4 (queen e2→c4, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxa3+ — knight b5→a3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ka1 (king b1→a1).
4. Best move: Nxc4 — knight a3→c4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, long, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, sacrifice. The key move Nxa3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r6/2p1kq2/p4pb1/1n2p1p1/p2PP1P1/P1P4R/1P1NQ1P1/1K5R w - - 7 28

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