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

Position

White: king g1; queen a7; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knights c3/f5; pawns a2/b2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f7; queen d8; rooks b8/h8; bishops e6/e7; knights e5/f6; pawns d6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight f6→e4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe7 — knight f5→e7, captures bishop. Opponent replies Ra8 (rook b8→a8).
3. Best move: Nc6+ — knight e7→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Rxa7 (rook a8→a7, captures queen).
4. Best move: Nxd8+ — knight c6→d8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, discovered check, long, middlegame. The key move Nxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r1q3r/Q3bkpp/3pbn2/4nN2/4P3/2N5/PP3PPP/R1B2RK1 b - - 0 14

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