Chess Puzzle #nM9kc — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen b3; rooks d1/e1; bishop g2; knights d2/e6; pawns a2/c3/d4/f2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks b8/h8; bishop c8; knights d7/e7; pawns a6/c5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qa5 — queen d8→a5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nc4 — knight d2→c4. Opponent replies fxe6 (pawn f7→e6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Nxa5 — knight c4→a5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move is Nc4.

Position data

FEN: 1rbqk2r/3nnppp/p3N3/2p5/3P4/1QP5/P2N1PBP/2KRR3 b k - 0 16

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