Chess Puzzle #h5x8X — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen g4; rooks a1/h1; knight g5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g6; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight d6; pawns a7/c6/d5/e6/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: e5 — pawn e6→e5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne6+ — knight g5→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king g6→f6).
3. Best move: dxe5+ — pawn d4→e5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f6→e7).
4. Best move: Nxc7 — knight e6→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, exposed king, long, middlegame. The key move dxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2r2/p1q2pp1/2pnp1k1/3p2N1/3P2Q1/2P5/PP3PPP/R3K2R b KQ - 3 15

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