Chess Puzzle #JakQ3 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen e2; rooks d1/h1; bishops d3/g5; knights c3/d4; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/e7; knights d7/f6; pawns a7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nc5 — knight d7→c5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nc6 — knight d4→c6. Opponent replies Nxd3+ (knight c5→d3, captures bishop, gives check).
3. Best move: Rxd3 — rook d1→d3, captures knight. Opponent replies Qc7 (queen d8→c7).
4. Best move: Nxe7+ — knight c6→e7, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Nxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1rk1/p2nbpp1/4pn1p/3p2B1/3N3P/2NB4/PP2QPP1/3RK2R b K - 0 13

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