Chess Puzzle #3QqdG — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f3; queen e2; rooks d1/f1; knight d5; pawns a3/b2/e4/e5/f4/h2. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks a8/e8; bishop g7; pawns a5/b5/c4/e7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rad8 — rook a8→d8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe7+ — knight d5→e7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe7 (rook e8→e7, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, discovered attack, kingside attack, master, middlegame, short. The key move Nxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/4ppbp/2q3p1/pp1NP3/2p1PP2/P4K2/1P2Q2P/3R1R2 b - - 3 22

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