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

Position

White: king c1; queen h3; rook e1; knights d2/e6; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f3. Black: king g8; queen f4; rook a8; knights f8/g6; pawns a6/b4/c6/d5/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook a8→e8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxf4 — knight e6→f4, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxe1+ (rook e8→e1, captures rook, gives check).
3. Best move: Kc2 — king c1→c2. Opponent replies Nxf4 (knight g6→f4, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qh4 — queen h3→h4.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Nxf4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4nk1/6pp/p1p1Npn1/3p4/1p1P1q2/2P2P1Q/PP1N4/2K1R3 b - - 1 28

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