Chess Puzzle #YhK9B — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen g4; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e3; rook f1; pawns a7/b7/c7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rf4 — rook f1→f4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe6+ — queen g4→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
3. Best move: Ng5 — knight e4→g5. Opponent replies Qxe6 (queen e3→e6, captures queen).
4. Best move: Nxe6+ — knight g5→e6, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
5. Best move: Nxf4 — knight e6→f4, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, quiet move, very long. The key move Nxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/ppp3p1/7p/8/4N1Q1/3Pq2P/PPP3PK/5r2 b - - 9 25

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