Chess Puzzle #1hWru — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen e2; rooks d1/h1; knight c5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f2/g3/h3. Black: king b8; queen b6; rooks c8/g8; knight a5; pawns a7/b7/d5/e4/e6/f6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nc4 — knight a5→c4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nd7+ — knight c5→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Ka8 (king b8→a8).
3. Best move: Nxb6+ — knight d7→b6, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, master, middlegame, short. The key move Nxb6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1kr3r1/pp5p/1q2pp2/n1Np4/3Pp3/2P3PP/PP2QP2/1K1R3R b - - 1 21

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