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

Position

White: king g1; queen g2; rooks e1/f1; bishop e7; pawns a4/c3/f6/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks d3/e8; knight c4; pawns a6/b6/e5/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne3 — knight c4→e3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe4 — queen g2→e4. Opponent replies Nxf1 (knight e3→f1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxd3 — queen e4→d3, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, short. The key move is Qe4.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/2q1Bp2/pp3Ppp/4p3/P1n5/2Pr2P1/6QP/4RRK1 b - - 1 34

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