Chess Puzzle #604ow — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishop b3; knights e4/f3; pawns a4/d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops b7/f6; knights b8/d7; pawns b5/c6/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: c5 — pawn c6→c5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nd6+ — knight e4→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king e8→e7).
3. Best move: Nxb7 — knight d6→b7, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Nd6+.

Position data

FEN: rn1qk2r/1b1n1ppp/2p1pb2/1p6/P2PN3/1B2PN2/5PPP/R2QR1K1 b kq - 0 16

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