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

Position

White: king g1; queen d6; rooks b1/f1; knight e8; pawns a2/c2/c3/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king a6; queen a5; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; knights c6/g8; pawns a7/c4/d7/e6/g5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne7 — knight g8→e7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nc7+ — knight e8→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc7 (queen a5→c7, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxc7 — queen d6→c7, captures queen. Opponent replies Nd5 (knight e7→d5).
4. Best move: Qd6 — queen c7→d6.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Nc7+.

Position data

FEN: r1b1N1nr/p2p3p/k1nQp1p1/q3P1p1/2p5/2P5/P1P2PPP/1R3RK1 b - - 9 19

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