Chess Puzzle #U9nHc — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen h7; rooks d2/h1; knights e2/g7; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f3/g5/h6. Black: king f8; queen b5; rooks c8/g8; bishops b7/e7; knight e3; pawns a5/b4/e5/f7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxc2 — rook c8→c2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: g6 — pawn g5→g6. Opponent replies Rxd2 (rook c2→d2, captures rook).
3. Best move: Ne6+ — knight g7→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f8→e8).
4. Best move: Nc7+ — knight e6→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e8→d7).
5. Best move: Nxb5 — knight c7→b5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move is g6.

Position data

FEN: 2r2kr1/1b2bpNQ/7P/pq2p1P1/1p2P3/4nP2/PPPRN3/1K5R b - - 2 26

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