Chess Puzzle #esia5 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; rooks a1/e1; bishops c1/c4; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/e5; knight g8; pawns a7/b7/c7/f4/f6/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne7 — knight g8→e7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe5 — rook e1→e5, captures bishop. Opponent replies fxe5 (pawn f6→e5, captures rook).
3. Best move: Nxc7+ — knight d5→c7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e8→d8).
4. Best move: Nxa8 — knight c7→a8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

capturing the defender, equality, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Nxc7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k1nr/ppp5/5p1p/3Nb1p1/2B2p2/8/PPP3PP/R1B1R1K1 b kq - 1 13

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