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

Position

White: king h1; queen h6; rook f1; knights d5/g3; pawns a4/b3/c4/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d2; rooks c8/e8; bishop f6; pawns a6/b5/d6/e7/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: dxe5 — pawn d6→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight d5→f6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies exf6 (pawn e7→f6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Ne4 — knight g3→e4. Opponent replies Qd8 (queen d2→d8).
4. Best move: f5 — pawn f4→f5.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, long, master, middlegame. The key move Nxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r1r1k1/4pp2/p2p1bpQ/1p1NP3/P1P2P2/1P4N1/3q2PP/5R1K b - - 0 26

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