Chess Puzzle #9INsB — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks a1/e3; bishop b3; knight f5; pawns a2/b2/d5/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen d7; rooks c8/e8; bishop b7; knight g5; pawns a6/b5/c7/d6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxh6 — knight f5→h6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: gxh6 — pawn g7→h6, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxh6+ (queen h5→h6, captures pawn, gives check).
3. Best move: Nh7 — knight g5→h7.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move gxh6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r1r2k/1bpq1pp1/p2p3p/1p1P1NnQ/4P3/1B2R3/PP3PPP/R5K1 w - - 0 22

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