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

Position

White: king e1; queen b7; rooks d1/h1; knights f5/g5; pawns a3/b2/c5/e3/f2/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks a8/g6; bishop e7; knights c6/f6; pawns a6/c7/d5/e4/f7/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rb8 — rook a8→b8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe7+ — knight f5→e7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe7 (queen d7→e7, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxc6 — queen b7→c6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Nxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/1Qpqbp2/p1n2nr1/2Pp1NNp/4p2P/P3P3/1P3PP1/3RK2R b K - 5 21

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