Chess Puzzle #19iLx — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks c1/f1; knight g4; pawns a3/b4/e3/f2/g2/g3. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks a8/e5; bishop b6; knight f8; pawns a6/b7/e4/f7/h4. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxh5 — rook e5→h5, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight g4→f6, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
3. Best move: Nxh5+ — knight f6→h5, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, hanging piece, master, middlegame, short. The key move Nxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4nk1/1p3p2/pb3q2/4r2Q/1P2p1Np/P3P1P1/5PP1/2R2RK1 b - - 1 27

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