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

Position

White: king b1; queen c4; rook c1; knight c5; pawns a3/b5/d3/f2/f3. Black: king c8; queen h4; rooks d8/f8; knight d4; pawns a7/b7/c7/e5/f4/h6. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxf2 — queen h4→f2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne4 — knight c5→e4. Opponent replies Nxb5 (knight d4→b5, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qe6+ — queen c4→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
4. Best move: Nxf2 — knight e4→f2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2kr1r2/ppp5/7p/1PN1p3/2Qn1p1q/P2P1P2/5P2/1KR5 b - - 3 26

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