Chess Puzzle #34Tke — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen h5; rooks d1/g1; bishops d3/g5; knight c3; pawns b2/c2/d5/f5/h3/h7. Black: king h8; queen f6; rooks c8/f8; bishops a3/b7; knights c4/d7; pawns a6/b5/e5/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd6 — queen f6→d6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne4 — knight c3→e4. Opponent replies Qb4 (queen d6→b4).
3. Best move: b3 — pawn b2→b3. Opponent replies Nd2+ (knight c4→d2, gives check).
4. Best move: Bxd2 — bishop g5→d2, captures knight. Opponent replies Qd4 (queen b4→d4).
5. Best move: Bc1 — bishop d2→c1.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, very long. The key move is Ne4.

Position data

FEN: 2r2r1k/1b1n1ppP/p4q2/1p1PpPBQ/2n5/b1NB3P/1PP5/1K1R2R1 b - - 1 23

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