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

Position

White: king h1; rooks d1/e1; bishop g2; knight f5; pawns a3/b4/c2/d5/e4/e5/g3/h2. Black: king b8; queen f2; rooks d8/h8; pawns a7/b7/c3/f7/g7/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: g6 — pawn g7→g6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nd4 — knight f5→d4. Opponent replies h4 (pawn h5→h4).
3. Best move: Re2 — rook e1→e2. Opponent replies Qxe2 (queen f2→e2, captures rook).
4. Best move: Nxe2 — knight d4→e2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, quiet move, trapped piece. The key move is Nd4.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r3r/pp3pp1/8/3PPN1p/1P2P3/P1p3P1/2P2qBP/3RR2K b - - 2 23

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