Chess Puzzle #3yvlf — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h3; queen e3; rook c4; knight e4; pawns a2/b3/e5/f3/g3/h4. Black: king g8; queen b2; rook a8; knight b4; pawns a3/e6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxa2 — knight b4→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rg4+ — rook c4→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
4. Best move: exf6 — pawn e5→f6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen b2→f6, captures pawn).
5. Best move: Qe4+ — queen e3→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Qf5 (queen f6→f5).
6. Best move: Qxa8 — queen e4→a8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

clearance, crushing, endgame, fork, intermezzo, sacrifice, very long. The key move is Nf6+.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/5pp1/4p2p/4P3/1nR1N2P/pP2QPPK/Pq6/8 b - - 4 35

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