Chess Puzzle #083ET — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c2; rook e1; bishop d3; knight e5; pawns a2/b3/c3/h4. Black: king b8; rooks f6/h8; bishop c6; knight a5; pawns b7/f7/h5. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook h8→e8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxc6+ — knight e5→c6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kc7 (king b8→c7).
3. Best move: Rxe8 — rook e1→e8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, middlegame, short. The key move Nxc6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1k5r/1p3p2/2b2r2/n3N2p/7P/1PPB4/P1K5/4R3 b - - 3 38

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