Chess Puzzle #CcO4q — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen c2; rooks d1/g1; knights c4/d4; pawns a2/b2/e5/f3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c8; rooks a8/f8; bishop b7; knights b8/f5; pawns a6/e6/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nc6 — knight b8→c6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxf5 — knight d4→f5, captures knight. Opponent replies exf5 (pawn e6→f5, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rxg7+ — rook g1→g7, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move Rxg7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rnq2rk1/1b3pp1/p3p3/4Pn2/2NN4/5P2/PPQ4P/2KR2R1 b - - 2 21

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