Chess Puzzle #xMEc2 — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b7; rooks a1/f1; pawns a3/b4/c2/c5/e3/f2/g2. Black: king f8; queen h4; rook d8; knight e5; pawns a6/f5/f7/g4. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa6 — queen b7→a6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nf3+ — knight e5→f3, gives check. Opponent replies gxf3 (pawn g2→f3, captures knight).
3. Best move: g3 — pawn g4→g3. Opponent replies Qh6+ (queen a6→h6, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxh6 — queen h4→h6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, sacrifice. The key move is Nf3+.

Position data

FEN: 3r1k2/1Q3p2/p7/2P1np2/1P4pq/P3P3/2P2PP1/R4RK1 w - - 3 22

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