Chess Puzzle #c89xS — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen g4; rooks d1/h1; knight d5; pawns a2/c2/f7/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; pawns a6/b7/c7/e5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf7 — rook f8→f7, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne7+ — knight d5→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
3. Best move: Nxc8 — knight e7→c8, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qa3+ (queen a5→a3, gives check).
4. Best move: Kb1 — king c1→b1.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move is Ne7+.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/1pp2Ppp/p7/q2Np3/6Q1/6P1/P1P4P/2KR3R b - - 0 19

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