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

Position

White: king g1; queen b7; rook a1; bishop a3; knights b1/e5; pawns a2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops e1/e6; knights b8/e4; pawns a7/c5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 8 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd7 — knight b8→d7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nc6+ — knight e5→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Kd6 (king e7→d6).
3. Best move: Nxd8 — knight c6→d8, captures queen. Opponent replies Bxf2+ (bishop e1→f2, captures pawn, gives check).
4. Best move: Kh1 — king g1→h1.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Nc6+.

Position data

FEN: rn1q3r/pQ2k1pp/4b3/2p1N3/4n3/B7/P4PPP/RN2b1K1 b - - 0 14

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