Chess Puzzle #8hztX — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks c1/e1; bishop h4; knight d5; pawns a2/b3/d4/e6/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen b7; rooks c8/f8; bishop g7; knight b6; pawns a6/b5/d6/e7/f7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxc1 — rook c8→c1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe7+ — knight d5→e7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe7 (queen b7→e7, captures knight).
3. Best move: Bxe7 — bishop h4→e7, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxe1+ (rook c1→e1, captures rook, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxe1 — queen e3→e1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Nxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/1q2ppb1/pn1pP2p/1p1N4/3P3B/1P2Q3/P4PP1/2R1R1K1 b - - 0 26

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