Chess Puzzle #Mp21A — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b2; rook c5; bishop f1; knight c7; pawns a2/b3/e3/h3. Black: king g8; queen d1; rook f8; bishops f3/g3; pawns a7/b7/e4/g5/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: h6 — pawn h7→h6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne6 — knight c7→e6. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
3. Best move: Rf5+ — rook c5→f5, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe6 (king f7→e6, captures knight).
4. Best move: Rxf8 — rook f5→f8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, exposed king, long, middlegame, skewer. The key move is Ne6.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/ppN4p/8/2R3p1/4p3/1P2PbbP/PQ6/3q1BK1 b - - 5 33

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