Chess Puzzle #Rpe96 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e5; rooks a1/d1; bishop g2; knight d5; pawns a3/b2/e7/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen b8; rooks a8/e8; bishops b7/c5; pawns a6/b5/c4/c7/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: c6 — pawn c7→c6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight d5→f6, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxc5 — queen e5→c5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qe5 (queen b8→e5).
4. Best move: Qxe5 — queen c5→e5, captures queen. Opponent replies fxe5 (pawn f6→e5, captures queen).
5. Best move: Rd7 — rook d1→d7.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, middlegame, very long. The key move is Nf6+.

Position data

FEN: rq2r1k1/1bp1Ppp1/p6p/1pbNQ3/2p5/P5P1/1P3PBP/R2R2K1 b - - 0 20

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