Chess Puzzle #YmdC3 — Expert, White to move, opening

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rooks c1/f1; bishops e3/h3; knights f3/g5; pawns a2/b4/d3/e2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks a8/f8; bishops d5/e7; knights c6/c7; pawns a7/b6/c5/e5/f5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: cxb4 — pawn c5→b4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe5 — knight f3→e5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nxe5 (knight c6→e5, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxd7 — queen a4→d7, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxd7 (knight e5→d7, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxc7 — rook c1→c7, captures knight.

Tactical themes

capturing the defender, equality, long, middlegame. The key move Nxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/p1nqb1pp/1pn5/2pbppN1/QP6/3PBNPB/P3PP1P/2R2RK1 b - - 0 15

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