Chess Puzzle #9CUC8 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rook a1; bishop d3; knights c3/f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/e8; bishop c8; knights b8/f6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne4 — knight f6→e4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe4 — knight c3→e4, captures knight. Opponent replies dxe4 (pawn d5→e4, captures knight).
3. Best move: Ng5 — knight f3→g5. Opponent replies Bf5 (bishop c8→f5).
4. Best move: Bc4 — bishop d3→c4.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Nxe4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: rnb1r1k1/pp2qp2/2p2n1Q/3p4/3P4/2NB1N2/PPP2PPP/R5K1 b - - 0 13

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