Chess Puzzle #F4yYI — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen b7; rook a1; bishop b2; knights d5/f3; pawns a2/b4/c2/d4/e4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks a8/f8; bishop g7; knight c6; pawns a7/c7/d6/f4/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rab8 — rook a8→b8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc6 — queen b7→c6, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxc6 (queen d7→c6, captures queen).
3. Best move: Ne7+ — knight d5→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
4. Best move: Nxc6 — knight e7→c6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, equality, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxc6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pQpq1pb1/2np3p/3N2p1/1P1PPp2/5N1P/PBP3P1/R4K2 b - - 2 16

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