Chess Puzzle #sG1eB — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen d1; rooks c1/e1; knights d5/g1; pawns a3/b4/f2/g2. Black: king e8; queen f4; rooks a8/h1; bishop d7; knight e7; pawns a6/b7/e6/f6/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qh2 — queen f4→h2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nc7+ — knight d5→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
3. Best move: Qxd7 — queen d1→d7, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxg1+ (rook h1→g1, captures knight, gives check).
4. Best move: Ke2 — king f1→e2. Opponent replies Qe5+ (queen h2→e5, gives check).
5. Best move: Kd2 — king e2→d2.

Tactical themes

defensive move, deflection, discovered attack, equality, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move is Nc7+.

Position data

FEN: r3k3/1p1bn3/p3ppp1/3N4/1P3q2/P7/5PP1/2RQRKNr b q - 2 21

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