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

Position

White: king h1; queen c1; rooks a1/e1; bishop c2; knights b1/d6; pawns a3/b4/e4/f4/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks c8/h8; bishops b6/b7; knight d3; pawns a6/b5/d7/f6/f7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ke7 — king e8→e7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxc8+ — knight d6→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc8 (queen d8→c8, captures knight).
3. Best move: Bxd3 — bishop c2→d3, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxc1 (queen c8→c1, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxc1 — rook e1→c1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Nxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rqk2r/1b1p1p2/pb1N1p1p/1p6/1P2PP2/P2n4/2B3PP/RNQ1R2K b k - 0 22

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