Chess Puzzle #lVkbk — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rooks b3/f1; bishops c3/e2; knight d5; pawns e4/f4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a2; rooks a8/f8; bishops e6/g7; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/d6/e7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Na5 — knight c6→a5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe7+ — knight d5→e7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Bxg7+ — bishop c3→g7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg7 (king h8→g7, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Qc3+ — queen c4→c3, gives check. Opponent replies f6 (pawn f7→f6).
5. Best move: Rb2 — rook b3→b2.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, kingside attack, master, middlegame, very long. The key move Nxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pp2ppbp/2npb1p1/3N4/2Q1PP2/1RB4P/q3B1P1/5RK1 b - - 3 21

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