Chess Puzzle #VzTI2 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen d5; rooks d1/g1; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/g5/h4. Black: king h7; queen b6; rooks e3/f4; bishop g7; knight a5; pawns a6/b4/c5/d6/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxh4 — rook f4→h4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf6 (bishop g7→f6, captures knight).
3. Best move: gxf6 — pawn g5→f6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qb7 (queen b6→b7).
4. Best move: Qg5 — queen d5→g5.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move is Nf6+.

Position data

FEN: 8/6bk/pq1p2p1/n1pQ2Pp/1p2Nr1P/3Pr3/PPP5/2KR2R1 b - - 1 24

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