Chess Puzzle #01P93 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks e1/h1; knights c7/g5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f3/h4. Black: king g7; queen f5; rooks e7/f8; knights c6/h5; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxc7 — rook e7→c7, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe6+ — knight g5→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
3. Best move: Nxc7 — knight e6→c7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, master, middlegame, short. The key move Nxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/ppN1r1kp/2n1p1p1/3p1qNn/3P3P/5P2/PPPQ4/2K1R2R b - - 0 18

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