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

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rooks a1/e1; bishops c2/g5; knight e5; pawns a3/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d5; rooks a8/e8; bishops b6/b7; knight e7; pawns a6/b5/c7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nf5 — knight e7→f5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ng4 — knight e5→g4. Opponent replies Qxg2+ (queen d5→g2, captures pawn, gives check).
3. Best move: Qxg2 — queen h3→g2, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxe1+ (rook e8→e1, captures rook, gives check).
4. Best move: Rxe1 — rook a1→e1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, quiet move. The key move is Ng4.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/1bp1np1p/pb4p1/1p1qN1B1/8/P1P4Q/2B2PPP/R3R1K1 b - - 1 20

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