Chess Puzzle #APxUW — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b1; knight d6; pawns a2/e3/e5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a3; rook e8; pawns a7/c6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe5 — rook e8→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nc4 — knight d6→c4. Opponent replies Qe7 (queen a3→e7).
3. Best move: Qb8+ — queen b1→b8, gives check. Opponent replies Qe8 (queen e7→e8).
4. Best move: Qxe5 — queen b8→e5, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, fork, long. The key move is Nc4.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/p4pp1/2pN3p/4P3/8/q3P2P/P4PP1/1Q4K1 b - - 2 24

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