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

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rooks a1/b3; knights e4/f3; pawns a2/b2/e5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king b8; queen b7; rooks d8/g8; bishops d7/e7; knight b4; pawns e6/f7/h6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bc6 — bishop d7→c6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nc5 — knight e4→c5. Opponent replies Bxc5 (bishop e7→c5, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxc5 — queen c4→c5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Bxf3 (bishop c6→f3, captures knight).
4. Best move: Rxb4 — rook b3→b4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, pin. The key move is Nc5.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r2r1/1q1bbp1p/4p2p/4P3/1nQ1N3/1R3N1P/PP3PP1/R5K1 b - - 6 22

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