Chess Puzzle #5jIgp — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks a1/e1; bishop e3; knights c3/e5; pawns b2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks c8/e8; bishops b4/b5; knight d5; pawns a7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qb6 — queen a5→b6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxd5 — knight c3→d5, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxd2 (bishop b4→d2, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxb6 — knight d5→b6, captures queen. Opponent replies Bxe1 (bishop d2→e1, captures rook).
4. Best move: Nxc8 — knight b6→c8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Nxd5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r1r1k1/p4ppp/4p3/qb1nN3/1b1P4/2N1B3/1P1Q1PPP/R3R1K1 b - - 9 23

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