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

Position

White: king g1; queen c3; rook e1; bishop d4; knight f3; pawns c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a2; rook f8; bishop e7; knights b4/d7; pawns f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc2 — knight b4→c2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe7 — rook e1→e7, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qb1+ (queen a2→b1, gives check).
3. Best move: Ne1 — knight f3→e1.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Rxe7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/3nbppp/8/8/1n1B4/2Q2N2/q1P2PPP/4R1K1 b - - 1 22

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