Chess Puzzle #2A1IF — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks a1/f1; bishop b2; knight d4; pawns a2/b3/c2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c5; rooks a8/f8; bishops d5/e7; pawns a7/b6/d6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: f5 — pawn f7→f5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: b4 — pawn b3→b4. Opponent replies Qxb4 (queen c5→b4, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Nxf5 — knight d4→f5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxb2 (queen b4→b2, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Nxe7+ — knight f5→e7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
5. Best move: Nxd5 — knight e7→d5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Nxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/p3bppp/1p1p4/2qb4/3N4/1P4Q1/PBP3PP/R4RK1 b - - 1 19

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