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

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rook a1; bishops b3/d2; knight g5; pawns a3/c2/d3/g4/g6. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks a8/f8; bishop b7; knights c6/d5; pawns a7/b6/c7/e4/e6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne5 — knight c6→e5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bc3 — bishop d2→c3. Opponent replies Nxc3 (knight d5→c3, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Bxe6+ — bishop b3→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
4. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h4→h7, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Bxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pbpq4/1pn1p1P1/3n2N1/4p1PQ/PB1P4/2PB4/R5K1 b - - 0 21

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