Chess Puzzle #s7NX7 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen c5; rook g1; bishop d5; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f4/h2. Black: king f6; queen a4; rook h8; bishop e6; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxd5 — bishop e6→d5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: fxe5+ — pawn f4→e5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king f6→f7).
3. Best move: Qxd5+ — queen c5→d5, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f7→e8).
4. Best move: Rxg7 — rook g1→g7, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, intermezzo, long. The key move fxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 7r/ppp3pp/2n1bk2/2QBp3/q3PP2/8/PPP4P/2K3R1 b - - 0 23

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