Chess Puzzle #49NCo — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; rooks a1/d5; bishop h6; knights c3/f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c6; queen f6; rooks a8/h8; bishop g7; pawns a7/b7/e5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxh6 — bishop g7→h6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe5+ — knight f3→e5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe5 (queen f6→e5, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rxe5 — rook d5→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Nxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r6r/pp3pbp/2k2qpB/3Rp3/8/2N2N2/PPP2PPP/R5K1 b - - 2 16

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