Chess Puzzle #C4iv9 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks d1/e1; knight f4; pawns a2/b3/c2/c4/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks a8/f8; bishop f5; pawns a6/c6/c7/d4/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: c5 — pawn c6→c5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nd5 — knight f4→d5. Opponent replies Qd6 (queen f6→d6).
3. Best move: Ne7+ — knight d5→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
4. Best move: Nxf5 — knight e7→f5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Nd5.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/2p2pp1/p1p2q1p/5b2/2Pp1N2/1P4P1/P1PQ3P/3RR1K1 b - - 0 25

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