Chess Puzzle #wke5D — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen c5; knights f3/f5; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen d1; rook a8; knight e8; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (6 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd7 — queen d1→d7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne7+ — knight f5→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Ng6+ — knight e7→g6, gives check. Opponent replies hxg6 (pawn h7→g6, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qf8+ — queen c5→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king h8→h7).
5. Best move: Ng5+ — knight f3→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king h7→h6).
6. Best move: Nxf7+ — knight g5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf7 (queen d7→f7, captures knight).
7. Best move: Qxf7 — queen f8→f7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

clearance, crushing, endgame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Nxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3n1k1/pp3ppp/8/2Q2N2/8/5N2/PP3PPK/3q4 b - - 0 24

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