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

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks a1/f1; bishops c4/e3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/f6/h3. Black: king g8; queen b4; rooks a8/f8; bishops e7/g6; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc4 — knight e5→c4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: fxe7 — pawn f6→e7, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxe7 (queen b4→e7, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qxc4 — queen b3→c4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, master, middlegame, short. The key move fxe7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pp2bppp/2p2Pb1/4n3/1qBP4/1QN1B2P/PP3P2/R4RK1 b - - 0 16

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