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

Position

White: king d2; queen c2; rooks g1/g2; knight d5; pawns b2/d4/e3/f2/h2. Black: king h8; queen f6; rooks a8/g8; knights d7/h7; pawns a6/b5/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe6 — queen f6→e6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nc7 — knight d5→c7. Opponent replies Rac8 (rook a8→c8).
3. Best move: Nxe6 — knight c7→e6, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxc2+ (rook c8→c2, captures queen, gives check).
4. Best move: Kxc2 — king d2→c2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Nc7.

Position data

FEN: r5rk/3n1ppn/p4q2/1p1N4/3P4/4P3/1PQK1PRP/6R1 b - - 0 21

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