Chess Puzzle #4X5O0 — Intermediate, White to move, endgame

Position

White: king c5; queen c1; rook a6; knight d4; pawn c3. Black: king g5; queen g3; rook f4; knight f5; pawns c4/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe3 — queen g3→e3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe3 — queen c1→e3, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxe3 (knight f5→e3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Ne6+ — knight d4→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg6 (king g5→g6).
4. Best move: Nxf4+ — knight e6→f4, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, double check, endgame, fork, long. The key move Nxf4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/7p/R7/2K2nk1/2pN1r2/2P3q1/8/2Q5 b - - 5 38

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