Chess Puzzle #NateB — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen d3; rooks d1/g4; bishop d6; knight g5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/e5/f2/h4. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/h5; knights d7/f8; pawns a4/b7/c6/d5/e6/g6/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe6 — knight g5→e6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nxe6 — knight f8→e6, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxg6 (queen d3→g6, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qe8 — queen d8→e8.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, short. The key move Nxe6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2q1nk1/1p1n2p1/2pBp1p1/3pP1Nr/p2P2RP/3Q4/PPP2P2/2KR4 w - - 3 22

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