Chess Puzzle #04b73 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; knight f3; pawns a2/b3/e4/f2/f6/h3. Black: king f7; queen c6; bishop e6; knight g7; pawns a7/b6/e5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxf6 — king f7→f6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg5+ — queen e3→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king f6→f7).
3. Best move: Nxe5+ — knight f3→e5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f7→e8).
4. Best move: Nxc6 — knight e5→c6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, fork, long. The key move Nxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/p4knp/1pq1bPp1/4p3/4P3/1P2QN1P/P4P2/6K1 b - - 0 32

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