Chess Puzzle #5Loeq — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rook f2; knight d4; pawns a4/b2/c3/f4/g2/h3. Black: king g7; queen c5; rook e4; knight b6; pawns a5/b7/d5/f5/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc7 — queen c5→c7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe4 — queen c2→e4, captures rook. Opponent replies dxe4 (pawn d5→e4, captures queen).
3. Best move: Ne6+ — knight d4→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king g7→f6).
4. Best move: Nxc7 — knight e6→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, fork, long, sacrifice. The key move Qxe4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 8/1p4kp/1n4p1/p1qp1p2/P2NrP2/2P4P/1PQ2RP1/6K1 b - - 1 25

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