Chess Puzzle #hC9Ai — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen e5; rook g1; bishop c4; knight d5; pawns a2/b3/c2. Black: king g7; queen d7; rook d8; bishop f5; knight f6; pawns a6/b7/e7/f3/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Be6 — bishop f5→e6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxf6 — knight d5→f6, captures knight. Opponent replies exf6 (pawn e7→f6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxe6 — queen e5→e6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxe6 (queen d7→e6, captures queen).
4. Best move: Bxe6 — bishop c4→e6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Nxf6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3r4/1p1qp1k1/p4np1/3NQb2/2B5/1P3p2/P1P5/2K3R1 b - - 0 23

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