Chess Puzzle #1U40O — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rook h3; knight e5; pawns a2/c4/f5/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen f8; rook d4; bishop c8; knight h7; pawns a7/b7/c5/f7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd8 — queen f8→d8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxf7+ — knight e5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
3. Best move: Nxd8 — knight f7→d8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Nxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2b2q1k/pp3p1n/8/2p1NP2/2Pr4/7R/P1Q3PP/6K1 b - - 3 26

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