Chess Puzzle #TD9aG — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e3; bishop e5; knight b5; pawns b3/c7/f4/g2/h2. Black: king d5; bishop d7; knight c6; pawns b4/b6/f5/g4/h4. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight c6→e5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: fxe5 — pawn f4→e5, captures knight. Opponent replies Kxe5 (king d5→e5, captures pawn).
3. Best move: g3 — pawn g2→g3. Opponent replies f4+ (pawn f5→f4, gives check).
4. Best move: gxf4+ — pawn g3→f4, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move gxf4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/2Pb4/1pn5/1N1kBp2/1p3Ppp/1P2K3/6PP/8 b - - 2 33

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