bob, congrats on finding it, but I still don't think it was a very good puzzle, anyways...

The more I think about it, the more I'd wager that 1. Qf4 is the first move. This puts pressure on the all important knight on e5. Hard to say...

I guess it's one of these positions where you should first look for weaknesses and THEN for tactics. It took me very long to find the key idea.

Weak is the hanging black knight and the a1-h8 diagonal with check and mating threats because of the white knight controlling g8.

1.Ne6 fxe6 2.Bd4. I can't find a defense to that. Black can only throw in pieces one by one. I don't think this foreseeable line was actually played in this game.

So we need to check a decline:
1.Ne6 Qd7 2.Nxf8 Bxf8 3.Bd4 Bg7 4.Re1

I think this is enough for white. I would then simply show black that his b7 bishop is ugly: 4...Qe7 5.Bxe5 Bxe5 6.Rxe5 Qxe5 7.Nxf7+ Nxf7 8.Rxf7 and it's over.

see thorex i did get yesterdays puzzle right and u didnt

Solving chess puzzle means:
1% to find the first move
99% to prove that it is right

thorex, I was looking at the same line, but I think black comes out drawish with this sacrifice. I played through just that scenario and could not beat the machine with it. I guess that isn't saying that much though :)

yah i guess ur right but i did find the actual answer later thorex

1.Ne6 Qd7 2.Nxf8 Bxf8 3.Bd4 Bg7 4.Bxe5 Bxe5 5.Nxf7 Nxf7 6.Rxf7 Bg7 Bxg6

Wait nevermind. Queen can take rook on f7. This one is hard

All I can see is Ne6. I'm stumpted