Chess Puzzle #A2qaZ — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d2; queen a7; rook h1; bishops c1/g2; knight d3; pawns c2/g3/h2. Black: king f7; queen b1; rook h8; bishop e7; knights c3/c7; pawns e5/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: N7b5 — knight c7→b5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe5+ — knight d3→e5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies fxe5 (pawn f6→e5, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rf1+ — rook h1→f1, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The key move Nxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 7r/Q1n1bkpp/5p2/4p3/8/2nN2P1/2PK2BP/1qB4R b - - 5 22

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