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

Position

White: king h2; queen c3; bishop d2; knight g5; pawns e5/f4/g2/h3. Black: king g7; queen a2; bishops e4/e7; pawns d3/d5/f7/g6/h4. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc4 — queen a2→c4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc4 — queen c3→c4, captures queen. Opponent replies dxc4 (pawn d5→c4, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxe4 — knight g5→e4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, capturing the defender, endgame, master, short. The key move Qxc4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 8/4bpk1/6p1/3pP1N1/4bP1p/2Qp3P/q2B2PK/8 b - - 1 40

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