Chess Puzzle #21usM — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; rooks d1/h1; knight e5; pawns a4/b2/c3/d4/f2/g2. Black: king h8; rooks b8/f8; bishop e7; pawns a5/b7/d5/g6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf2 — rook f8→f2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxg6+ — knight e5→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
3. Best move: Nxe7+ — knight g6→e7, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, pin, short. The key move Nxg6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r3r1k/1p2b1pp/6p1/p2pN3/P2P4/2P5/1P3PP1/2KR3R b - - 1 21

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