Chess Puzzle #2UsHc — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knight f3; pawns a2/b4/c3/d3/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rook f8; bishop a8; knights g4/h4; pawns b6/c7/d6/e5/f5/g7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxh4 — knight f3→h4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxh4 — queen d8→h4, captures knight. Opponent replies h3 (pawn h2→h3).
3. Best move: Nxf2+ — knight g4→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf2 (rook f1→f2, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qxf2 — queen h4→f2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Nxf2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: b2q1rk1/2p3p1/1p1p3p/4pp2/1P2P1nn/2PP1N2/P4PPP/R1BQ1R1K w - - 0 21

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