Chess Puzzle #18KGw — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d1; queen e2; rooks a1/f1; knights e4/f3; pawns a3/b2/d5/e5/f4/h2. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks a8/f8; bishop g4; knight d3; pawns a6/b5/c4/c7/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rad8 — rook a8→d8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxh4 — knight f3→h4, captures queen. Opponent replies Bxe2+ (bishop g4→e2, captures queen, gives check).
3. Best move: Kxe2 — king d1→e2, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, short. The key move Nxh4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/2p2pp1/p6p/1p1PP3/2p1NPbq/P2n1N2/1P2Q2P/R2K1R2 b - - 4 21

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