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

Position

White: king g1; queen f2; rooks a1/f1; bishop e2; knight a4; pawns a3/b3/c2/f4/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen a5; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; knights c6/d7; pawns a6/b7/d5/e6/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nf8 — knight d7→f8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nb6 — knight a4→b6. Opponent replies d4 (pawn d5→d4).
3. Best move: Nxa8 — knight b6→a8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is Nb6.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k2r/1p1n2pp/p1n1pp2/q2p4/N4P2/PP6/2P1BQPP/R4RK1 b kq - 0 18

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