Chess Puzzle #83e8A — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks a1/e1; bishop e4; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d5/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen e7; rooks d8/h8; bishop d7; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/c7/e6/f7/g3/h4. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight c6→e5, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: d6 — pawn d5→d6. Opponent replies gxf2+ (pawn g3→f2, captures pawn, gives check).
3. Best move: Kh1 — king g1→h1. Opponent replies fxe1=Q+ (pawn f2→e1, captures rook, promotes to queen, gives check).
4. Best move: Rxe1 — rook a1→e1, captures queen. Opponent replies Bc6 (bishop d7→c6).
5. Best move: dxe7 — pawn d6→e7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, defensive move, middlegame, very long. The key move is d6.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/1ppbqp2/p1n1p3/3PN3/4B2p/1QP1P1p1/PP3PPP/R3R1K1 b - - 0 21

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