Chess Puzzle #T6ht9 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f2; queen d1; rook f1; bishops e2/e3; knights b5/e5; pawns a2/b2/d5/g4/h3. Black: king e8; queen c5; rooks a8/h8; bishops e4/f8; knights a1/f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe7 — queen c5→e7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa4 — queen d1→a4. Opponent replies c6 (pawn c7→c6).
3. Best move: d6 — pawn d5→d6. Opponent replies Qxd6 (queen e7→d6, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Nxd6+ — knight b5→d6, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Nxd6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/ppp2ppp/4pn2/1NqPN3/4b1P1/4B2P/PP2BK2/n2Q1R2 b kq - 3 16

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