Chess Puzzle #Ijv4V — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks c1/e1; bishop g5; knight c3; pawns b2/b3/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b4; rooks a8/f8; bishop e7; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb3 — queen b4→b3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nd5 — knight c3→d5. Opponent replies Qxg3 (queen b3→g3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxe7+ — knight d5→e7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
4. Best move: fxg3 — pawn f2→g3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pp2bppp/2pp1n2/6B1/1q2P3/1PN3QP/1P3PP1/2R1R1K1 b - - 0 17

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