Chess Puzzle #0Ra5P — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Position

White: king e1; queen d2; rooks a1/h1; bishops f3/f4; knights c3/e5; pawns a2/b3/c2/d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks a8/h8; bishops b4/c8; knights c6/f6; pawns a6/b5/c4/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qa5 — queen b6→a5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxc6 — knight e5→c6, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxc3 (bishop b4→c3, captures knight).
3. Best move: Nxa5 — knight c6→a5, captures queen. Opponent replies Bxd2+ (bishop c3→d2, captures queen, gives check).
4. Best move: Kxd2 — king e1→d2, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, hanging piece, long, middlegame. The key move Nxc6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k2r/5pp1/pqn1pn1p/1p1pN3/1bpP1B2/1PN1PB2/P1PQ1PPP/R3K2R b KQkq - 2 12

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