Chess Puzzle #Mb4Cz — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c4; queen e6; rook d2; knight g5; pawns a4/d6/g2. Black: king g7; queen b1; rook h1; bishop d4; pawns a6/b7/c5/e5/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: b5+ — pawn b7→b5, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Kd5 — king c4→d5. Opponent replies Qb3+ (queen b1→b3, gives check).
3. Best move: Kc6 — king d5→c6. Opponent replies Qxe6 (queen b3→e6, captures queen).
4. Best move: Nxe6+ — knight g5→e6, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, long. The key move Nxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/1p4k1/p2PQ1p1/2p1p1N1/P1Kb4/8/3R2P1/1q5r b - - 2 38

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