Chess Puzzle #sVZN1 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks c1/e1; bishop f4; knight d5; pawns a2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks a7/d8; bishop d6; knight c5; pawns a6/b6/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxf4 — bishop d6→f4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne7+ — knight d5→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe7 (rook a7→e7, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen d2→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
4. Best move: Qxe7 — queen d8→e7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, discovered attack, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/r4p2/ppqb2pp/2nN4/5B2/8/P2Q1PPP/2R1R1K1 b - - 1 26

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