Chess Puzzle #lb4Ki — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks d1/f1; bishop c4; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/g2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; knights e5/f6; pawns a7/b7/d4/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc4 — knight e5→c4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight e4→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxc4 — queen e2→c4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, intermezzo, middlegame, short. The key move Nxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/pp3ppp/5n2/4n3/2BpN3/6P1/PP2Q1PP/3R1RK1 b - - 3 16

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