Chess Puzzle #4Xbu9 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen g4; knight f5; pawns a3/f2/g3/g5. Black: king g8; queen f6; knight c5; pawns a5/b5/d7/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxg5 — queen f6→g5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxh6+ — knight f5→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
3. Best move: Qxg5 — queen g4→g5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, intermezzo, master, pin, short. The key move Nxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/3p1p2/5q1p/ppn2NP1/6Q1/P5P1/5P1K/8 b - - 0 36

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