Chess Puzzle #0x9L5 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen d4; knight d7; pawns a5/f2/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rook a1; pawns f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxa5 — rook a1→a5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight d7→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen d8→f6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxf6 — queen d4→f6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, short. The key move is Nf6+.

Position data

FEN: 3q2k1/3N1p1p/6p1/P7/3Q2P1/7P/5PK1/r7 b - - 20 42

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