Chess Puzzle #07NWP — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen e2; rooks d1/h1; bishop c4; knights b1/f3; pawns b3/c2/e4/f2/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen a2; rooks a8/f8; bishops e6/f6; knight c5; pawns a7/b4/c6/e5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxb3+ — knight c5→b3, captures pawn, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: cxb3 — pawn c2→b3, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxe2 (queen a2→e2, captures queen).
3. Best move: Bxe2 — bishop c4→e2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move cxb3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/p4pp1/2p1bb1p/2n1p3/1pB1P1P1/1P3N1P/q1P1QP2/1NKR3R b - - 1 18

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