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

Position

White: king g1; queen f2; rook f1; knight a5; pawns a4/c2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b2; rook c8; bishop a2; knight c5; pawns b4/e6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: e5 — pawn e6→e5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nc6 — knight a5→c6. Opponent replies Ne6 (knight c5→e6).
3. Best move: Ne7+ — knight c6→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
4. Best move: Nxc8 — knight e7→c8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Nc6.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/6pp/4p3/N1n5/Pp6/8/bqP2QPP/5RK1 b - - 1 26

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