Chess Puzzle #Fx4EP — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen d3; rooks a1/h1; bishop e2; knights d6/f3; pawns a2/b2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen h6; rooks a8/e8; bishops c8/e3; knight b8; pawns a6/b7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd8 — rook e8→d8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxf7 — knight d6→f7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxd3 (rook d8→d3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxh6+ — knight f7→h6, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures knight).
4. Best move: Bxd3 — bishop e2→d3, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Nxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rnb1r1k1/1p3ppp/p2N3q/8/8/3QbN2/PP2B1PP/R3K2R b KQ - 6 17

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