Chess Puzzle #t9ZC0 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rook f1; bishops b1/c1; knights c4/d3; pawns a2/b3/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops b7/c5; knight c6; pawns a7/b6/d7/e6/f7/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: d5 — pawn d7→d5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxc5 — knight d3→c5, captures bishop. Opponent replies dxc4 (pawn d5→c4, captures knight).
3. Best move: Nxb7 — knight c5→b7, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxd2 (queen d8→d2, captures queen).
4. Best move: Bxd2 — bishop c1→d2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Nxc5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2qk2r/pb1p1p2/1pn1p3/2b1P2p/2N5/1P1N4/P2Q1PPP/1BB2RK1 b kq - 2 19

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