Chess Puzzle #2H9o6 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f2; rook h3; knight f5; pawns a2/b2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e5; rook c8; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/e4/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rf8 — rook c8→f8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxh6+ — knight f5→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rg3+ — rook h3→g3, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, sacrifice, short. The key move Nxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/pp4p1/2p4p/3pqN2/4p3/7R/PP3QPP/6K1 b - - 1 24

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