Chess Puzzle #F0qsp — Master, White to move, opening

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/f1; knights b5/g1; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d4; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe4+ — queen d4→e4, captures pawn, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Be2 — bishop f1→e2. Opponent replies Bd7 (bishop c8→d7).
3. Best move: Nxc7+ — knight b5→c7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e8→d8).
4. Best move: Nxa8 — knight c7→a8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, fork, long, opening. The key move Nxc7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b1kb1r/ppp1pppp/2n2n2/1N6/3qP3/8/PPP3PP/R1BQKBNR b KQkq - 1 6

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