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

Position

White: king h2; queen c2; knight d7; pawns b3/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen e5; knight a5; pawns a6/d5/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd6 — queen e5→d6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight d7→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
3. Best move: Ne8+ — knight f6→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g7→f8).
4. Best move: Nxd6 — knight e8→d6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, long. The key move is Nf6+.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/3N1p1p/p3p1p1/n2pq3/8/1P4PP/2Q4K/8 b - - 1 35

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