Chess Puzzle #3olBl — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks b1/f1; bishops b6/e2; knight c3; pawns a2/c2/e4/f5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/f8; bishops d7/g7; knight f6; pawns a6/b7/d6/e7/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight f6→e4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe4 — knight c3→e4, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxd2 (queen a5→d2, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxd2 — knight e4→d2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Nxe4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1p1bppb1/pB1p1npp/q4P2/4P3/2N5/P1PQB1PP/1R3RK1 b - - 3 16

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