Chess Puzzle #ElRZG — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a6; rook a8; bishops b5/g3; knight d3; pawns c4/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b7; rook d8; bishops c5/e6; knight c8; pawns b6/d4/e5/f6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe4 — queen b7→e4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxc5 — knight d3→c5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxa8 (queen e4→a8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxa8 — queen a6→a8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, master vs master, middlegame, short. The key move Nxc5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: R1nr2k1/1q4p1/Qp2bp1p/1Bb1p3/2PpP3/3N2BP/5PP1/6K1 b - - 7 29

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