Couldn't find the solution (puzzle battle)

I had this as part of a puzzle battle and I just couldn't find the solution.  White to move.

Hi,

the earlier comment is a good demonstration of how not to study a tactic.

don't guess a move.

instead look for tactical patterns, what is defending what etc, and visualize what happens if you go down one line or another in your head.

So his thought process should be ok 1.d5--- Nxc3 maybe, attacking my queen, so 2. Rxc3 Bxd5 and... I'm not sure how to evaluate that position. - if I'm not sure it's probably not the solution which tends to contain some forced pattern in puzzles.

I can tell you the solution but instead i'll tell you the tactical themes that are all at play in this puzzle:

• Remove the defender
• Intermezzo (and double intermezzo) --AKA Zwischenzug or "In Between" move.
• Checks & a "single tempo" in chess (how one single tempo can change a line completely, and if one side misses in their calculation a Check, which essentially freezes time, that often loses!)

Nxc6 bxc6 and you win the e4 knight. If they take your c3 knight, you take their queen with check. Ez