Chess Puzzle #AuaIY — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen c3; rooks d1/g1; bishop d3; knight e5; pawns b2/e3/f2/h3. Black: king h8; queen e6; rooks a8/f8; bishop a2; knight b8; pawns a7/b6/c7/d7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nc6 — knight b8→c6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxg7 — rook g1→g7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Kxg7 (king h8→g7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rg1+ — rook d1→g1, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king g7→f6).
4. Best move: Nxc6+ — knight e5→c6, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, discovered attack, long, master, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Nxc6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rn3r1k/p1pp2pp/1p2q3/4N3/8/2QBP2P/bP3P2/2KR2R1 b - - 1 19

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