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

Position

White: king f1; queen f3; rook a1; bishops c1/d3; knight e2; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/d4; pawns a7/b7/c6/c7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: f5 — pawn f7→f5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxd4 — knight e2→d4, captures bishop. Opponent replies fxe4 (pawn f5→e4, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Bc4+ — bishop d3→c4, gives check. Opponent replies Be6 (bishop c8→e6).
4. Best move: Bxe6+ — bishop c4→e6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
5. Best move: Nf5 — knight d4→f5.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, very long. The key move Bxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/ppp2ppp/2p5/8/3bP2q/3B1Q1P/PPP1N1P1/R1B2K2 b - - 5 13

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