Chess Puzzle #NVx2I — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d5; rook e1; bishop f4; knight g5; pawns a4/c4/d6/g2/h3. Black: king g7; queen d7; rook a6; bishops c8/d4; knight e8; pawns a5/b7/c5/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd6 — knight e8→d6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne6+ — knight g5→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe6 (queen d7→e6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rxe6 — rook e1→e6, captures queen. Opponent replies Bxe6 (bishop c8→e6, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxe6 — queen d5→e6, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame. The key move is Ne6+.

Position data

FEN: 2b1n3/1p1q2kp/r2P2p1/p1pQ1pN1/P1Pb1B2/7P/6P1/4R2K b - - 8 24

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