Chess Puzzle #0Nok9 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; bishop c1; knights c3/f4; pawns a2/b2/e4/f2/g2/h4. Black: king e8; rooks d8/h8; bishops b7/f8; knights a1/d4; pawns a6/b5/e6/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: g6 — pawn g7→g6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxg6 — knight f4→g6, captures pawn. Opponent replies hxg6 (pawn h7→g6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxh8 — queen h5→h8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, short. The key move Nxg6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3rkb1r/1b4pp/p3pp2/1p5Q/3nPN1P/2N5/PP3PP1/n1B3K1 b k - 5 17

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