Chess Puzzle #3kMg6 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g6; rooks a1/f1; knight c3; pawns a4/b2/c2/d3/e3/e4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rook a8; bishop c8; knights b4/f6; pawns a5/b7/c7/d6/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc2 — knight b4→c2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nd5 — knight c3→d5. Opponent replies Nxd5 (knight f6→d5, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rf7 — rook f1→f7. Opponent replies Qf6 (queen d8→f6).
4. Best move: Rxf6 — rook f7→f6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The key move is Nd5.

Position data

FEN: r1bq2k1/1pp3p1/3p1nQp/p7/Pn2P3/2NPP3/1PP3PP/R4RK1 b - - 3 14

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