Chess Puzzle #4yMLL — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen e2; rooks d6/h1; bishops b3/f2; knight b5; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen a5; rooks a8/h8; bishops b7/e7; knights e5/f6; pawns e6/f7/g5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxd6 — bishop e7→d6, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxd6+ — knight b5→d6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
3. Best move: Nxb7 — knight d6→b7, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Nxd6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/1b2bp2/3Rpn2/qN2n1p1/4P3/1B6/PPP1QBPP/2K4R b kq - 0 19

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