Chess Puzzle #E3aJ2 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; rook d1; bishop g3; knights a3/d7; pawns a2/b3/c4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; rook f8; bishops b7/e7; knight b6; pawns a6/c5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd7 — knight b6→d7, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxd7 — rook d1→d7, captures knight. Opponent replies Rd8 (rook f8→d8).
3. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d7→d8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Rxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/1b1Nbpp1/pn2p2p/2p5/2P5/NP4B1/P4PPP/3R2K1 b - - 2 24

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