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

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; knight e5; pawns c4/d3/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen b2; rook f8; pawns b6/f5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: h6 — pawn h7→h6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ng6+ — knight e5→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king h8→h7).
3. Best move: Nxf8+ — knight g6→f8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, short. The key move Nxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/6pp/1p2Q3/4Np2/2P5/3P3P/1q4P1/6K1 b - - 7 45

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