Chess Puzzle #9Zmiu — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen f4; rooks d1/h1; bishops b2/f1; knight e5; pawns a2/b3/c2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c5; rooks a8/f8; bishop e6; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d4/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight c6→e5, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bxd4 — bishop b2→d4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qd5 (queen c5→d5).
3. Best move: Qxe5 — queen f4→e5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxe5 (queen d5→e5, captures queen).
4. Best move: Bxe5 — bishop d4→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame. The key move Bxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/ppp2ppp/2n1bn2/2q1N3/3p1Q2/1P5P/PBP2PP1/1K1R1B1R b - - 6 16

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