Chess Puzzle #PCVH4 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knights c3/e6; pawns a4/b2/c4/d5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks e8/f8; bishop g7; knights e5/f5; pawns a6/b7/c5/d6/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe4 — queen h4→e4, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe4 — knight c3→e4, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxe6 (rook e8→e6, captures knight).
3. Best move: dxe6 — pawn d5→e6, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Nxe4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4rrk1/1p4bp/p2pN1p1/2pPnn2/P1P1Q2q/2N5/1P4PP/R1B2RK1 b - - 5 18

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