Chess Puzzle #EEp3I — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f8; knight e4; pawns a2/d4/f2. Black: king h5; queen c6; knight d5; pawns b4/c4/g5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nf4 — knight d5→f4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh4 (king h5→h4).
3. Best move: Qh6+ — queen f8→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Nh5 (knight f4→h5).
4. Best move: Nxh5 — knight f6→h5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, long. The key move is Nf6+.

Position data

FEN: 5Q2/7p/2q3p1/3n2pk/1ppPN3/8/P4P2/6K1 b - - 3 40

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