Chess Puzzle #3TwKP — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen d3; rooks a1/h1; bishop f2; knights c3/g1; pawns a2/b2/c2/e3/e4/g4/h6. Black: king h7; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/h8; knights b8/d6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/g5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: dxe4 — pawn d5→e4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe4 — knight c3→e4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nxe4 (knight d6→e4, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxe4+ — queen d3→e4, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Bf5 (bishop c8→f5).
4. Best move: gxf5 — pawn g4→f5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, exposed king, long, opening. The key move Qxe4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rnbq1r1b/pp5k/2pn3P/3p2p1/4P1P1/2NQP3/PPP2B2/R3K1NR b KQ - 0 16

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