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

Position

White: king c1; queen e3; rook d1; bishops c4/g5; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f2. Black: king c8; queen d7; rooks d8/h8; bishop g7; knight f3; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e7/f7/h5/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxg5 — knight f3→g5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxa7 — queen e3→a7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qc6 (queen d7→c6).
3. Best move: Nxe7+ — knight d5→e7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king c8→d7).
4. Best move: Nxc6 — knight e7→c6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Nxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/pppqppbp/3p4/3N2Bp/2B1P3/4Qn2/PPP2P2/2KR4 b - - 1 14

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