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

Position

White: king g2; queen g6; rook f1; bishop e6; knights d5/f3; pawns a2/b2/f5/h2. Black: king h8; queen e4; rooks b7/f8; bishop a7; pawns a4/b4/d6/e5/g5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: g4 — pawn g5→g4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nf6 — knight d5→f6. Opponent replies gxf3+ (pawn g4→f3, captures knight, gives check).
3. Best move: Kh1 — king g2→h1. Opponent replies f2+ (pawn f3→f2, gives check).
4. Best move: Nxe4 — knight f6→e4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move is Nf6.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/br4p1/3pB1Qp/3NpPp1/pp2q3/5N2/PP4KP/5R2 b - - 1 39

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