Chess Puzzle #jo07S — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen c6; rook h1; knights e2/e6; pawns a2/b2/e4/g2/h2. Black: king g6; queen e3; rooks a8/h8; knights c2/f6; pawns a7/c7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight f6→e4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: N2f4+ — knight e2→f4, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king g6→h6).
3. Best move: Nd4+ — knight e6→d4, gives check. Opponent replies Nf6 (knight e4→f6).
4. Best move: Nf5+ — knight d4→f5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg5 (king h6→g5).
5. Best move: Nxe3 — knight f5→e3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, exposed king, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move is N2f4+.

Position data

FEN: r6r/p1p3pp/2Q1Nnk1/8/4P3/4q3/PPn1N1PP/5K1R b - - 4 20

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