Chess Puzzle #DKbs6 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a3; rooks c1/f1; knights a7/f3; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c4; rooks a8/d8; bishop c8; knight c6; pawns b7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd5 — queen c4→d5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxc6 — knight a7→c6, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxa3 (rook a8→a3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Ne7+ — knight c6→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
4. Best move: Nxd5 — knight e7→d5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Nxc6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1br2k1/Np3ppp/2n1p3/8/2q5/Q4N2/PP3PPP/2R2RK1 b - - 4 19

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