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

Position

White: king e2; queen h5; rooks f1/g1; bishop d3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/g7; bishops c8/g5; knight b6; pawns a6/c6/d6/e6/h6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: dxe5 — pawn d6→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne4 — knight c3→e4. Opponent replies Nd5 (knight b6→d5).
3. Best move: Nxg5 — knight e4→g5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Nf4+ (knight d5→f4, gives check).
4. Best move: Rxf4 — rook f1→f4, captures knight. Opponent replies exf4 (pawn e5→f4, captures rook).
5. Best move: Qxh6 — queen h5→h6, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, very long. The key move is Ne4.

Position data

FEN: r1b3k1/4q1r1/pnppp2p/4P1bQ/8/2NB4/PPP1K3/5RR1 b - - 0 23

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