Chess Puzzle #1EmJW — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g4; queen c4; knight e5; pawns d5/f4/f7/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen e3; rook a3; bishop f8; pawns b4/c7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc3 — rook a3→c3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ng6+ — knight e5→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king h8→h7).
3. Best move: Nxf8+ — knight g6→f8, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, master, short. The key move Nxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5b1k/2p2Pp1/7p/3PN3/1pQ2PK1/r3q1P1/7P/8 b - - 2 42

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