Chess Puzzle #Bef2N — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c5; rooks d1/e1; knight c6; pawns f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a8; rooks b2/f8; bishop e6; pawns e7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook f8→e8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe7+ — knight c6→e7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe7 (rook e8→e7, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxe7 — queen c5→e7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: q4rk1/4pp1p/2N1b1p1/2Q5/8/7P/1r3PP1/3RR1K1 b - - 1 30

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