Chess Puzzle #6ELd1 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen e2; rooks a1/h1; bishops e6/f2; knight g1; pawns a3/b2/c5/d4/f7/h5. Black: king c7; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops f8/h7; knight e4; pawns a7/b7/c6/f4/g5/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxf2 — knight e4→f2, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe5+ — queen e2→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Bd6 (bishop f8→d6).
3. Best move: cxd6+ — pawn c5→d6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd6 (queen d8→d6, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Kxf2 — king e1→f2, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move cxd6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q1b1r/ppk2P1b/2p1B2p/2P3pP/3Pnp2/P7/1P2QB2/R3K1NR b KQ - 0 22

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