Chess Puzzle #Oonqx — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; rooks d1/h1; knights d6/f3; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f2/h3. Black: king g8; rooks a8/e7; knights e5/f4; pawns a6/b7/c5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: cxd4 — pawn c5→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe5 — knight f3→e5, captures knight. Opponent replies dxc3 (pawn d4→c3, captures pawn).
3. Best move: bxc3 — pawn b2→c3, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Nxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/1p2rppp/p2Np3/2p1n3/3P1n2/2P2N1P/PP3P2/3R1K1R b - - 0 19

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