Chess Puzzle #dR9qb — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rook f1; bishop d5; knight d4; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/e3/g2/h4. Black: king g7; queen f6; rook d8; bishop b7; knights c6/e6; pawns a7/b6/c5/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxh4 — queen f6→h4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe6+ — knight d4→e6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies fxe6 (pawn f7→e6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qc3+ — queen d2→c3, gives check. Opponent replies Nd4 (knight c6→d4).
4. Best move: Bxb7 — bishop d5→b7, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Nxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r4/pb3pk1/1pn1nqpp/2pB4/3N3P/P2PP3/1PPQ2P1/5RK1 b - - 4 21

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