Chess Puzzle #xNN1y — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rook f1; knight e5; pawns a3/c3/d4/f4/g5/h6. Black: king h8; queen b3; rook c8; bishop d6; pawns a5/d5/e6/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxc3 — rook c8→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxf7+ — knight e5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
3. Best move: Qxe6 — queen e3→e6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rg3+ (rook c3→g3, gives check).
4. Best move: Kh2 — king g1→h2.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, endgame, fork, long. The key move Nxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r4k/5p1p/3bp1pP/p2pN1P1/3P1P2/PqP1Q3/8/5RK1 b - - 8 30

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