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

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks b3/f1; bishop c4; knight a5; pawns b4/c5/e4/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/d4; bishops a3/c6; pawns a6/b7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe4 — rook d4→e4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxc6 — knight a5→c6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxc5+ (queen e7→c5, captures pawn, gives check).
3. Best move: bxc5 — pawn b4→c5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Nxc6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/1p2qppp/p1b1p3/N1P5/1PBrP1Q1/bR4P1/7P/5RK1 b - - 3 28

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