Chess Puzzle #5JoTm — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen e3; rooks d1/h1; knights d4/e4; pawns a2/b2/c2/f3/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d5; rooks c8/h8; bishops b7/c5; pawns a6/b5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa2 — queen d5→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxc5 — knight e4→c5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxc5 (rook c8→c5, captures knight).
3. Best move: Nxe6 — knight d4→e6, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, short. The key move Nxc5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r1k2r/1b3ppp/p3p3/1pbq4/3NN3/4QP2/PPP3PP/2KR3R b k - 0 17

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