Chess Puzzle #lS3Mg — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rook e1; bishop e2; knights c3/e8; pawns a2/b3/c4/e4/g2. Black: king h8; queen g3; rook a8; bishop h6; pawns a5/b7/c5/d6/g4/g6/h4. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nf6 — knight e8→f6. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Be3+ — bishop h6→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
3. Best move: h3 — pawn h4→h3. Opponent replies Rg1 (rook e1→g1).
4. Best move: Kg7 — king h8→g7. Opponent replies Nh5+ (knight f6→h5, gives check).
5. Best move: gxh5 — pawn g6→h5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, very long. The key move is Be3+.

Position data

FEN: r3N2k/1p6/3p2pb/p1p5/2P1P1pp/1PN3q1/P3B1P1/3QR1K1 w - - 0 36

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