Chess Puzzle #e5ifi — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rooks e1/f1; bishop c2; knight h6; pawns a2/b2/c3/g2/g5/h2. Black: king g7; queen c5; rooks a8/f8; bishop b7; knight e4; pawns a6/b5/d5/e5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxg5 — knight e4→g5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf6+ — queen f3→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh6 (king g7→h6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rxe5 — rook e1→e5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qc6 (queen c5→c6).
4. Best move: Qxg5+ — queen f6→g5, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxg5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/1b3pkp/p5pN/1pqpp1P1/4n3/2P2Q2/PPB3PP/4RR1K b - - 3 25

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