Chess Puzzle #K6lsy — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks c1/c2; bishop f4; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/e4/f2/g3/h3. Black: king e8; queen b4; rooks c8/h8; bishops b7/d4; pawns a6/b6/d7/e6/f5/g7/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxe4 — bishop b7→e4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe4 — knight c3→e4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxc2 (rook c8→c2, captures rook).
3. Best move: Nd6+ — knight e4→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd6 (queen b4→d6, captures knight).
4. Best move: Rxc2 — rook c1→c2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, intermezzo, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Nxe4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r1k2r/1b1p2p1/pp2p3/5p1p/1q1bPB2/2N2QPP/PPR2P2/2R3K1 b k - 1 22

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