Chess Puzzle #9GlGW — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rook f1; bishop d3; knights b1/c6; pawns c5/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a2; rooks a8/f8; bishops b2/e6; pawns a5/b5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rac8 — rook a8→c8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne7+ — knight c6→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Nxc8 — knight e7→c8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Ne7+.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/5ppp/2N1b3/ppP5/8/3BP3/qb1Q1PPP/1N3RK1 b - - 0 23

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