Chess Puzzle #Z0r4u — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks e1/f1; knights d2/f4; pawns a3/b2/c3/e4/e5/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen c6; rooks c8/h8; bishop e7; knight d7; pawns a4/b5/d4/e6/f7/g4/h3. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight d7→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: cxd4 — pawn c3→d4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qc2 (queen c6→c2).
3. Best move: dxe5 — pawn d4→e5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move cxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r1k2r/3nbp2/2q1p3/1p2P3/p2pPNp1/P1P3Pp/1P1N3P/3QRR1K b k - 2 26

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