Chess Puzzle #0PbuS — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen e5; rooks a1/h1; bishop g2; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knight f6; pawns a6/b7/c7/e6/g5/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bg7 — bishop f8→g7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxc7+ — knight d5→c7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king e8→f7).
3. Best move: Nxa8 — knight c7→a8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1bqkb1r/1pp4p/p3pn2/3NQ1p1/3P4/6P1/PPP2PBP/R3K2R b KQkq - 0 15

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