Chess Puzzle #n6YaZ — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b4; rooks a1/d1; bishops c5/g2; knight e5; pawns d4/e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen c8; rooks a8/h8; bishop b7; knights c3/f6; pawns a6/b5/c4/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd1 — knight c3→d1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxc4 — knight e5→c4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Bxg2 (bishop b7→g2, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Nd6+ — knight c4→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e8→d7).
4. Best move: Nxc8 — knight d6→c8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Nxc4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1q1k2r/1b3pp1/p3pn1p/1pB1N3/1QpP4/2n1P1P1/5PBP/R2R2K1 b kq - 1 20

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