Chess Puzzle #4Jldr — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen e3; rook a1; bishops c1/d3; knight c4; pawns a2/b3/c3/d2/g5/h2. Black: king g6; queen e6; rook a8; bishops f3/f8; knight h3; pawns a7/b7/c5/e4/e5/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qg4 — queen e6→g4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe5+ — knight c4→e5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g6→g7).
3. Best move: Nxg4 — knight e5→g4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Nxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4b2/pp5p/4q1k1/2p1p1P1/2N1p3/1PPBQb1n/P2P3P/R1B2K2 b - - 0 24

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