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

Position

White: king g1; queen b4; rooks a1/e1; knight f5; pawns a2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen f4; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; pawns a7/b7/d7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kg8 — king h8→g8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne7+ — knight f5→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Nd5 — knight e7→d5.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move is Ne7+.

Position data

FEN: r1b2r1k/pp1p1ppp/8/5N2/1Q1P1q2/8/P4PPP/R3R1K1 b - - 11 20

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