Chess Puzzle #403jL — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen g3; rooks d1/h1; bishops e5/f1; knight d4; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g2/h4. Black: king f8; queen b6; rooks c6/c8; bishops d7/e7; knights e6/f6; pawns a5/b7/d5/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxc3 — rook c6→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe6+ — knight d4→e6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Bxe6 (bishop d7→e6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Bxc3 — bishop e5→c3, captures rook.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, equality, middlegame, short. The key move Nxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r2k2/1p1bbp2/1qr1nn1p/p2pB3/3N3P/2P3Q1/PP3PP1/1K1R1B1R b - - 1 22

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