Chess Puzzle #16lEo — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; rook d1; bishops b2/e4; knight g5; pawns b4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; knight b6; pawns a7/b7/e7/f5/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: fxe4 — pawn f5→e4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne6 — knight g5→e6. Opponent replies Qc8 (queen c7→c8).
3. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd8 (queen c8→d8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Nxd8 — knight e6→d8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, fork, long. The key move is Ne6.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/ppq1p2p/1n4p1/5pN1/1P2B3/7P/1B3PP1/3R2K1 b - - 0 29

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