Chess Puzzle #E7cPu — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rooks d1/f1; bishop e3; knights c5/e4; pawns a2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishops d5/d6; knight b4; pawns a5/b5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc2 — knight b4→c2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Bxh6 — bishop e3→h6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Bxh2+ (bishop d6→h2, captures pawn, gives check).
4. Best move: Kh1 — king g1→h1.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move is Nf6+.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/2q2pp1/3bp2p/ppNb4/1n2N2Q/4B3/P1P2PPP/3R1RK1 b - - 1 18

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