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

Position

White: king g1; queen e1; rooks a1/f1; knight b4; pawns b2/c3/d4/e4/f2/g2/g3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a7/e8; bishops a5/c6; pawns b7/c7/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe4 — rook e8→e4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxc6 — knight b4→c6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxe1 (rook e4→e1, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxd8 — knight c6→d8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Nxc6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3qr1k1/rpp2p2/2b4p/b5p1/1N1PP3/2P3P1/1P3PP1/R3QRK1 b - - 2 22

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