Chess Puzzle #MEGUo — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f1; rooks e1/f3; knight f4; pawns a2/b2/c4/d5/g3/h2. Black: king g7; queen d6; rooks a8/h8; bishop e5; knight g8; pawns a7/b7/c7/f5/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nf6 — knight g8→f6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: c5 — pawn c4→c5. Opponent replies Ng4 (knight f6→g4).
3. Best move: cxd6 — pawn c5→d6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is c5.

Position data

FEN: r5nr/ppp3k1/3q2p1/3Pbp2/2P2N2/5RP1/PP5P/4RQ1K b - - 3 27

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