Chess Puzzle #p9uRB — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rook d2; bishop d4; knights c3/e5; pawns a3/b2/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishop b4; knight d7; pawns a6/b7/d5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight d7→e5, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: axb4 — pawn a3→b4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Ng6 (knight e5→g6).
3. Best move: f5 — pawn f4→f5.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move axb4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2qr1k1/1p1n1ppp/p7/3pN3/1b1B1P2/P1N3Q1/1P1R2PP/6K1 b - - 0 20

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