Chess Puzzle #1zOVA — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rooks c2/f1; bishop b1; pawns b2/b5/d4/e3/f2/f3/g3. Black: king c8; queen e6; rooks d8/h8; knight g5; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: bxc6 — pawn b5→c6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nh3+ — knight g5→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king g1→h2).
3. Best move: Nxf4 — knight h3→f4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Nh3+.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/pp3pp1/2p1q2p/1P1p2n1/3P1Q2/4PPP1/1PR2P2/1B3RK1 w - - 1 25

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