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

Position

White: king f2; queen c6; rook h7; bishop d2; knights d1/f7; pawns a3/d4/e3/f3/g2. Black: king a7; queen b1; rook c8; bishop d3; knight c2; pawns a6/b6/c4/c7/e7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd1 — queen b1→d1, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nd8 — knight f7→d8. Opponent replies Be4 (bishop d3→e4).
3. Best move: fxe4 — pawn f3→e4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxd2+ (queen d1→d2, captures bishop, gives check).
4. Best move: Kg3 — king f2→g3. Opponent replies Qxe3+ (queen d2→e3, captures pawn, gives check).
5. Best move: Kg4 — king g3→g4. Opponent replies Qxe4+ (queen e3→e4, captures pawn, gives check).
6. Best move: Qxe4 — queen c6→e4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, quiet move, very long. The key move is Nd8.

Position data

FEN: 2r5/k1p1pN1R/ppQ5/8/2pP4/P2bPP2/2nB1KP1/1q1N4 b - - 1 26

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