Chess Puzzle #OmJn5 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks c1/d1; bishop e2; knights b5/d2; pawns a3/b2/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/e8; bishops f5/g7; knight d7; pawns a5/c4/f6/f7/g6/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxc2 — bishop f5→c2, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxc7 — knight b5→c7, captures queen. Opponent replies Bxd1 (bishop c2→d1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxd1 — rook c1→d1, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxe2 (rook e8→e2, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Nxa8 — knight c7→a8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Nxc7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/2qn1pb1/5ppp/pN1P1b2/2p5/P6P/1PQNBPP1/2RR2K1 b - - 0 20

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