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

Position

White: king c2; queen e6; knight e5; pawns a3/b4/c5/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen d8; rook h8; bishop g5; pawns a7/b7/d5/h4/h6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf6 — queen d8→f6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nd7+ — knight e5→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king f8→g7).
3. Best move: Nxf6 — knight d7→f6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, master, short. The key move is Nd7+.

Position data

FEN: 3q1k1r/pp6/4Q2p/2PpN1b1/1P5p/P7/2K3PP/8 b - - 6 32

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