Chess Puzzle #0CczQ — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c3; knight d2; pawns a3/b2/e3/f2/g2/g3. Black: king e7; rook c5; pawns c4/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kd6 — king e7→d6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne4+ — knight d2→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Kc6 (king d6→c6).
3. Best move: Nxc5 — knight e4→c5, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, fork, short. The key move is Ne4+.

Position data

FEN: 8/4kppp/4p3/2r5/2p5/P1K1P1P1/1P1N1PP1/8 b - - 4 34

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