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

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks c1/f1; bishop d3; knight f7; pawns a2/b3/f2/g4/h3. Black: king g7; queen d4; rooks c8/d8; bishop b7; knight f6; pawns a5/b4/c6/d5/e7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne4 — knight f6→e4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxd8 — knight f7→d8, captures rook. Opponent replies Nxd2 (knight e4→d2, captures queen).
3. Best move: Ne6+ — knight d8→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king g7→f6).
4. Best move: Nxd4 — knight e6→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Nxd8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2rr4/1b2pNkp/2p2np1/p2p4/1p1q2P1/1P1B3P/P2Q1P2/2R2RK1 b - - 2 23

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