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

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks a1/f1; bishops c4/e3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/g2/h4. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/d4; knights c6/g8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne5 — knight c6→e5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bxf7+ — bishop c4→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
3. Best move: Bxd4 — bishop e3→d4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Nxf3+ (knight e5→f3, captures queen, gives check).
4. Best move: Rxf3 — rook f1→f3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, attack on f2/f7, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Bxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bqk1nr/ppp2p2/2np3p/8/2BbP2P/2N1BQ2/PPP3P1/R4RK1 b kq - 1 11

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