Chess Puzzle #cv3ob — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rook e1; bishops b1/c1; knights e5/f3; pawns b2/c3/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks a1/f8; bishop d6; knights c6/f6; pawns b4/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: bxc3 — pawn b4→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nd7 — knight e5→d7. Opponent replies Rb8 (rook f8→b8).
3. Best move: Nxb6 — knight d7→b6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, master, middlegame, short. The key move is Nd7.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/5pp1/1qnbpn1p/3pN3/1p1P4/2PQ1N1P/1P3PP1/rBB1R1K1 b - - 6 20

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