Chess Puzzle #AVoV3 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen c2; rooks c1/f2; knights c3/f5; pawns a2/b3/d5/e4/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks c8/f8; bishop g7; knight f3; pawns a6/b7/d6/e7/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen c7→c3, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe7+ — knight f5→e7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
3. Best move: Nxc8 — knight e7→c8, captures rook. Opponent replies Ne1+ (knight f3→e1, gives check).
4. Best move: Rxe1 — rook c1→e1, captures knight.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/1pq1ppb1/p2p3p/3P1Np1/4P3/1PN2nP1/P1Q2RKP/2R5 b - - 1 23

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