Chess Puzzle #OLut2 — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks c1/f1; bishop d3; knight b5; pawns a3/b2/d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f7; queen h6; rook a8; bishops b8/c8; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nc7 — knight b5→c7. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ne8 — knight f6→e8. Opponent replies g3 (pawn g2→g3).
3. Best move: Nxc7 — knight e8→c7, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is Ne8.

Position data

FEN: rbb5/pp3kpp/4pn1q/1N1p1p2/3P4/P2BP3/1P3PPP/2RQ1RK1 w - - 0 17

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