Chess Puzzle #1CDIQ — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rooks d1/f1; bishop g2; knights d5/e5; pawns a2/b2/c2/e2/f2/f4/h2. Black: king g8; queen c8; rooks a8/f8; bishops b6/e6; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight c6→e5, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne7+ — knight d5→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Nxc8 — knight e7→c8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, master, middlegame, short. The key move is Ne7+.

Position data

FEN: r1q2rk1/ppp2ppp/1bn1b3/3NN3/Q4P2/8/PPP1PPBP/3R1RK1 b - - 0 15

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