Chess Puzzle #CFAdo — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rook b8; knight f6; pawns a3/e5/f3/g2. Black: king g7; queen h4; rook b7; knight g3; pawns a7/e6/g6/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc7 — rook b7→c7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne8+ — knight f6→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g7→f7).
3. Best move: Nxc7 — knight e8→c7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, master, short. The key move is Ne8+.

Position data

FEN: 1R6/pr4k1/4pNp1/4P2p/7q/P3QPn1/6P1/6K1 b - - 2 35

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