Chess Puzzle #SOpJE — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rooks a2/e1; bishop c2; pawns b3/c4/f2/f5/g2/h4. Black: king h8; queen c7; rooks d8/f8; bishop b7; knight e6; pawns a3/b4/e5/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nf4 — knight e6→f4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: f6 — pawn f5→f6. Opponent replies Nh3+ (knight f4→h3, gives check).
3. Best move: Kf1 — king g1→f1. Opponent replies Bxg2+ (bishop b7→g2, captures pawn, gives check).
4. Best move: Kxg2 — king f1→g2, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, long, middlegame. The key move is f6.

Position data

FEN: 3r1r1k/1bq2p1p/4n2Q/4pP2/1pP4P/pP6/R1B2PP1/4R1K1 b - - 0 31

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