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

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; knight e7; pawns e5/g2/h3. Black: king a7; queen b8; rook c5; pawns a5/b6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen b8→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nc6+ — knight e7→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc6 (rook c5→c6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxe5 — queen e3→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, endgame, short. The key move is Nc6+.

Position data

FEN: 1q6/k3N2p/1p4p1/p1r1P3/8/4Q2P/6P1/6K1 b - - 2 40

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