Chess Puzzle #7PcQ3 — Expert, White to move, opening

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks d1/f1; bishop f4; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c3/e3/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c7/d7; knight g6; pawns a6/b5/c4/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: O-O — king e8→g8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nc5 — knight e4→c5. Opponent replies Qc8 (queen d8→c8).
3. Best move: Nxd7 — knight c5→d7, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is Nc5.

Position data

FEN: r2qk2r/2bb1pp1/p3p1np/1p2P3/2p1NB2/2P1PQ2/PP3PPP/3R1RK1 b kq - 8 16

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