Chess Puzzle #rSiUM — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen a4; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/e2; knight f3; pawns a2/b4/c5/d4/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks c7/f8; bishop f5; knights d7/e4; pawns d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: O-O — king e1→g1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nc3 — knight e4→c3. Opponent replies Qa6 (queen a4→a6).
3. Best move: Nb8 — knight d7→b8. Opponent replies Qa3 (queen a6→a3).
4. Best move: Nxe2+ — knight c3→e2, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Nxe2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/2rn1ppp/4pq2/2Pp1b2/QP1Pn3/4PN1P/P3BPP1/R1B1K2R w KQ - 4 18

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