Chess Puzzle #nmSb2 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Rating 2184 · Expert · equality, kingside attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice.

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rook f1; knight g5; pawns a3/b2/c3/d4/e3/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rook a8; bishops b7/d6; knight h4; pawns a5/b5/c4/e4/e5/e6/g7. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nf3+ — knight h4→f3, gives check. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rxf3 — rook f1→f3, captures knight. Opponent replies exf3 (pawn e4→f3, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h5→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
  4. Best move: Nxe6+ — knight g5→e6, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, kingside attack, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Nxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/1bq3p1/3bp3/pp2p1NQ/2pPp2n/P1P1P2P/1P6/5RK1 b - - 0 27

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

Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.