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

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks c1/f1; bishop h6; knight c3; pawns a2/e3/e5/g2/h5. Black: king g8; queen b2; rooks a8/e8; bishops e6/e7; knight d3; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc1 — knight d3→c1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: hxg6 — pawn h5→g6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Ne2+ (knight c1→e2, gives check).
3. Best move: Nxe2 — knight c3→e2, captures knight.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move hxg6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/pp2b2p/2p1b1pB/3pP2P/8/2NnP1Q1/Pq4P1/2R2RK1 b - - 0 21

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