Chess Puzzle #fa2zy — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rooks d1/f1; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop g7; pawns a6/d4/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ra7 — rook a8→a7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nc6 — knight e5→c6. Opponent replies Qd7 (queen d8→d7).
3. Best move: Nxa7 — knight c6→a7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Nc6.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/5pbp/p5p1/4N3/3p1Q2/8/PP4PP/3R1RK1 b - - 2 27

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