Chess Puzzle #7EITm — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks a1/e1; bishops b6/g2; knight d5; pawns a3/b2/e5/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks a8/f8; bishops e7/f5; knight d3; pawns a6/b7/c4/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe1 — knight d3→e1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf5 — queen f3→f5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxf5 (queen d7→f5, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxe7+ — knight d5→e7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
4. Best move: Nxf5 — knight e7→f5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, deflection, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Nxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1p1qbppp/pB6/3NPb2/2p5/P2n1QP1/1P3PBP/R3R1K1 b - - 8 17

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