Chess Puzzle #06s4a — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen b3; rooks a1/h1; bishop f1; knights d5/e2; pawns a2/b2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen e4; rooks a8/h8; bishops d4/e6; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxh1 — queen e4→h1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxc7+ — knight d5→c7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e8→d8).
3. Best move: Nxe6+ — knight c7→e6, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Nxc7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rn2k2r/ppp2ppp/4b3/3N4/3bq3/1Q4P1/PP2NP1P/R3KB1R b KQkq - 1 11

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