Chess Puzzle #ng0W0 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks c1/e1; bishop f4; pawns a2/d4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c4; rooks b2/f8; bishop a7; pawns a6/c7/d5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd4+ — queen c4→d4, captures pawn, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Be3 — bishop f4→e3. Opponent replies Qf6 (queen d4→f6).
3. Best move: Bxa7 — bishop e3→a7, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxf3 (queen f6→f3, captures queen).
4. Best move: gxf3 — pawn g2→f3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, long, middlegame, skewer. The key move is Be3.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/b1p2ppp/p7/3p4/2qP1B2/5Q2/Pr4PP/2R1R1K1 b - - 0 20

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