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

Position

White: king g3; queen g6; rooks a1/h7; knight e4; pawns a2/d3/f3/f4/g2/g5. Black: king f8; queen d4; rooks a8/e8; bishops c8/g7; knight c5; pawns a7/b7/d6/e7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe4+ — knight c5→e4, captures knight, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: dxe4 — pawn d3→e4, captures knight. Opponent replies Be6 (bishop c8→e6).
3. Best move: e5 — pawn e4→e5. Opponent replies Bxe5 (bishop g7→e5, captures pawn).
4. Best move: fxe5 — pawn f4→e5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxe5+ (queen d4→e5, captures pawn, gives check).
5. Best move: f4 — pawn f3→f4. Opponent replies Qc3+ (queen e5→c3, gives check).
6. Best move: Kh2 — king g3→h2.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, middlegame, very long. The key move dxe4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1b1rk2/pp2p1bR/3p2Q1/2n3P1/3qNP2/3P1PK1/P5P1/R7 b - - 0 22

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