Chess Puzzle #APSul — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; rook c5; bishop f3; knight g5; pawns d4/e3/f2/g3/h4. Black: king g7; queen d7; rook a2; pawns e6/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: f6 — pawn f7→f6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc7 — rook c5→c7. Opponent replies Qxc7 (queen d7→c7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Nxe6+ — knight g5→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g7→f7).
4. Best move: Nxc7 — knight e6→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, deflection, endgame, fork, long, pin, sacrifice. The key move Nxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/3q1pk1/4p1p1/2R3Np/3P3P/4PBP1/r4PK1/8 b - - 3 36

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