Chess Puzzle #k8xnY — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen f3; rooks d1/f1; bishop e3; knight e5; pawns b2/c2/d5/e4/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen a2; rooks a8/h8; bishop b7; knights b8/f6; pawns a5/b4/d6/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nbd7 — knight b8→d7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxd7 — knight e5→d7, captures knight. Opponent replies Nxd7 (knight f6→d7, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e8→d8).
4. Best move: Bb6+ — bishop e3→b6, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king d8→c8).
5. Best move: Qg7 — queen f7→g7. Opponent replies Re8 (rook h8→e8).
6. Best move: Qxg6 — queen g7→g6, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

attack on f2/f7, equality, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rn2k2r/1b3p2/3p1npp/p2PN3/1p2P3/4BQ1P/qPP3P1/2KR1R2 b kq - 0 22

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