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

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rook e8; knight e5; pawns a2/c3/g3/h3. Black: king h7; queen d6; rook f2; knight g6; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxa2 — rook f2→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rh8+ — rook e8→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh8 (king h7→h8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Nxf7+ — knight e5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king h8→h7).
4. Best move: Nxd6 — knight f7→d6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, endgame, fork, long, pin, sacrifice. The key move Nxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4R3/pp3ppk/2pq2np/4N3/4Q3/2P3PP/P4r2/6K1 b - - 1 33

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