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

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop d5; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c3/e4/g2/h3. Black: king d8; queen g3; rooks a8/h8; bishops b7/e5; knight c6; pawns a6/b5/c7/d7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rf8 — rook h8→f8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe5 — knight f3→e5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxf1+ (rook f8→f1, captures rook, gives check).
3. Best move: Qxf1 — queen d1→f1, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxe5 (queen g3→e5, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qf8+ — queen f1→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Qe8 (queen e5→e8).
5. Best move: Qxg7 — queen f8→g7, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

deflection, equality, middlegame, very long. The key move Nxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2k3r/1bpp2pp/p1n5/1p1Bb3/4P3/2P2NqP/PP4P1/R2Q1R1K b - - 4 19

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