Chess Puzzle #H6caH — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop c6; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/d6/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop e8; knight c2; pawns a6/b5/c4/c7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxc6 — bishop e8→c6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxc6 — knight e5→c6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxd6 (queen d8→d6, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qxd6 — queen d1→d6, captures queen. Opponent replies cxd6 (pawn c7→d6, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rac1 — rook a1→c1.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Nxc6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2qbrk1/2p2ppp/p1BP4/1p2N3/2p5/6P1/PPn2P1P/R2Q1RK1 b - - 0 18

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