Chess Puzzle #YPYeM — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f6; rooks b1/e1; knight b6; pawns a4/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen e4; rooks d8/f8; bishop e6; pawns a6/b7/d4/f5/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qg4 — queen e4→g4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nc8 — knight b6→c8. Opponent replies Bxc8 (bishop e6→c8, captures knight).
3. Best move: e6 — pawn e5→e6.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, quiet move, sacrifice, short. The key move is Nc8.

Position data

FEN: 3rkr2/1p3p1p/pN2bQ2/4Pp2/P2pq3/8/5PPP/1R2R1K1 b - - 3 28

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