Chess Puzzle #TxV36 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rook e2; knight d7; pawns f2/g4/h3. Black: king h8; queen a3; rook g8; bishop b4; pawns a5/c6/d5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxh3 — queen a3→h3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne5 — knight d7→e5. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook g8→f8).
3. Best move: Re3 — rook e2→e3. Opponent replies Qh4 (queen h3→h4).
4. Best move: Nf7+ — knight e5→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures knight).
5. Best move: Qxf7 — queen e6→f7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, very long. The key move is Ne5.

Position data

FEN: 6rk/3N2pp/2p1Q3/p2p4/1b4P1/q6P/4RP2/6K1 b - - 3 30

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