Chess Puzzle #1MEWC — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks a1/f1; bishops e2/f4; pawns a2/c3/c5/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: cxd6 — pawn c5→d6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nxd4 — knight c6→d4, captures queen. Opponent replies dxe7 (pawn d6→e7, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxe2+ — knight d4→e2, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
4. Best move: Re8 — rook f8→e8.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Nxe2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/ppp1qppp/2np4/2P5/3Q1B2/2P1P3/P3BPPP/R4RK1 w - - 1 18

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