Chess Puzzle #2Ph3a — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen g4; knights d4/d7; pawns e5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g7; queen a1; rook c8; pawns b7/d5/e6/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc4 — rook c8→c4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe6+ — knight d4→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies fxe6 (pawn f7→e6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxe6 — queen g4→e6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rf4 (rook c4→f4).
4. Best move: Nf6 — knight d7→f6. Opponent replies Rxf6 (rook f4→f6, captures knight).
5. Best move: Qxf6+ — queen e6→f6, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, very long. The key move Nxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r5/1p1N1pk1/4p2p/3pP1p1/3N2Q1/7P/5PPK/q7 b - - 1 35

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