Chess Puzzle #1O4JU — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen f3; rooks d1/f1; knight h5; pawns a4/b4/c3/d3/e3/g3/h4. Black: king b8; queen b6; rooks g8/h8; knight g6; pawns a7/b7/c6/e5/f6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxf6 — knight h5→f6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nxh4+ — knight g6→h4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king g2→f2).
3. Best move: Nxf3 — knight h4→f3, captures queen. Opponent replies Nd7+ (knight f6→d7, gives check).
4. Best move: Kc7 — king b8→c7.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Nxh4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1k4rr/pp6/1qp2pn1/4p2N/PP5P/2PPPQP1/6K1/3R1R2 w - - 1 27

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