Chess Puzzle #0YZno — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a8; rook f1; bishop a3; knight g5; pawns a2/b5/e4/f4/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen d8; rook h8; bishops c8/g7; knight e7; pawns b6/c7/d6/e6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: h6 — pawn h7→h6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe6+ — knight g5→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king f8→f7).
3. Best move: Nxd8+ — knight e6→d8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Nxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: Q1bq1k1r/2p1n1bp/1p1pp1p1/1P4N1/4PP2/B7/P5PP/5RK1 b - - 2 21

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