Chess Puzzle #TRlD2 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen e3; rooks a1/h1; bishop e2; knights d5/f3; pawns a3/b4/c2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen e6; rooks a8/h8; bishops b6/c8; knight e5; pawns a6/b7/c7/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxe3 — bishop b6→e3, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxc7+ — knight d5→c7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king e8→e7).
3. Best move: Nxe6 — knight c7→e6, captures queen. Opponent replies Bxe6 (bishop c8→e6, captures knight).
4. Best move: fxe3 — pawn f2→e3, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Nxc7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k2r/1pp2pp1/pb2q2p/3Nn3/1P6/P3QN1P/2P1BPP1/R3K2R b KQkq - 4 16

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