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

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/e2; knight g5; pawns a4/b2/f4/g4/h2. Black: king e8; queen e6; rooks a8/f8; bishops a6/g7; knights d5/h5; pawns a7/c4/c5/d6/e7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (7 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nhxf4 — knight h5→f4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe6 — knight g5→e6, captures queen. Opponent replies Ng2+ (knight f4→g2, gives check).
3. Best move: Kd2 — king e1→d2. Opponent replies c3+ (pawn c4→c3, gives check).
4. Best move: bxc3 — pawn b2→c3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Bxc3+ (bishop g7→c3, captures pawn, gives check).
5. Best move: Kc2 — king d2→c2. Opponent replies Nge3+ (knight g2→e3, gives check).
6. Best move: Bxe3 — bishop c1→e3, captures knight. Opponent replies Nxe3+ (knight d5→e3, captures bishop, gives check).
7. Best move: Kxc3 — king c2→c3, captures bishop. Opponent replies Nxd1+ (knight e3→d1, captures queen, gives check).
8. Best move: Bxd1 — bishop e2→d1, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, very long. The key move Nxe6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3kr2/p3p1bp/b2pq1p1/2pn2Nn/P1p2PP1/8/1P2B2P/R1BQK2R b KQq - 1 17

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