Chess Puzzle #SbDI8 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen f5; rook d1; bishop e5; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/f2/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen e8; rook a8; bishop b6; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd5 — knight f6→d5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxd5 — rook d1→d5, captures knight. Opponent replies cxd5 (pawn c6→d5, captures rook).
3. Best move: Ng5 — knight f3→g5.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The key move Rxd5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3q1k1/pp3ppp/1bp2n2/4BQ2/6P1/5N1P/PP3PK1/3R4 b - - 1 23

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