Chess Puzzle #74htV — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c5; rooks c2/d1; bishop h1; knight c3; pawns a5/b6/d5/e4/g3. Black: king h7; queen f6; rook d8; bishops f8/h3; knight d6; pawns a6/b7/e5/f3/g6/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight d6→e4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc7+ — queen c5→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Bg7 (bishop f8→g7).
3. Best move: Nxe4 — knight c3→e4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, intermezzo, middlegame, short. The key move is Qc7+.

Position data

FEN: 3r1b2/1p5k/pP1n1qpp/P1QPp3/4P3/2N2pPb/2R5/3R2KB b - - 0 36

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