Chess Puzzle #7A6O1 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen c3; rooks a1/d1; bishop g2; knight d5; pawns a2/c4/f3/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c5; rooks b2/f8; bishops f5/f6; pawns a7/e5/e7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: e4 — pawn e5→e4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight d5→f6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies exf6 (pawn e7→f6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxb2 — queen c3→b2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Nxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/p3pp1p/5bp1/2qNpb2/2P5/2Q2PP1/Pr4BP/R2R3K b - - 4 21

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