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

Position

White: king h1; queen d7; knight e6; pawns a2/b2/c3/g2/h4. Black: king d5; queen f6; rook h8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/e5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ke4 — king d5→e4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nc5+ — knight e6→c5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf4 (king e4→f4).
3. Best move: g3+ — pawn g2→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kf3 (king f4→f3).
4. Best move: Qd1+ — queen d7→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg3 (king f3→g3, captures pawn).
5. Best move: Ne4+ — knight c5→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh4 (king g3→h4, captures pawn).
6. Best move: Nxf6 — knight e4→f6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, fork, master, very long. The key move is Nc5+.

Position data

FEN: 7r/pp1Q4/2n1Nq2/3kp3/7P/2P5/PP4P1/7K b - - 0 34

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