Chess Puzzle #kL81h — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks e1/e3; bishop g2; knight f3; pawns a5/b4/d6/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks a7/e8; knights d7/f6; pawns a6/b5/c4/e4/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne5 — knight d7→e5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe5 — knight f3→e5, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxe5 (rook e8→e5, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qd4 — queen d2→d4. Opponent replies Rd7 (rook a7→d7).
4. Best move: Qxe5 — queen d4→e5, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Nxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/r2n1pp1/p1qP1n1p/Pp6/1Pp1p3/4RNP1/3Q1PBP/4R1K1 b - - 2 23

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