Chess Puzzle #1t9EZ — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b2; rooks b1/f1; bishop d2; knight b6; pawns a2/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen c7; rooks d8/h8; bishop f8; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen c7→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bf4 — bishop d2→f4. Opponent replies Qxf4 (queen e5→f4, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Nxd5 — knight b6→d5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qb4 (queen f4→b4).
4. Best move: Nxb4 — knight d5→b4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The key move is Bf4.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r1b1r/1pq2pp1/pNn1p2p/3pP3/8/8/PQ1B1PPP/1R3RK1 b - - 7 19

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