Chess Puzzle #6FnMJ — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; bishop b2; knights d7/e2; pawns a2/b3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e4; bishops b7/d8; knight f6; pawns a6/b5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe2 — queen e4→e2, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight d7→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qd6 — queen g3→d6. Opponent replies Qd1+ (queen e2→d1, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxd1 — queen d6→d1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Nxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3b2k1/1b1N1ppp/p3pn2/1p6/4q3/1P4QP/PB2NPP1/6K1 b - - 1 22

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