Chess Puzzle #9xaqN — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen g3; rooks a1/f1; bishop e3; knight h6; pawns a2/b2/c4/d3/e4/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen d7; rooks a8/h8; bishop d6; knight f6; pawns a5/b4/c5/c7/e5/f7/g6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxh6 — rook h8→h6, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: fxe5 — pawn f4→e5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxh2+ (rook h6→h2, captures pawn, gives check).
3. Best move: Qxh2 — queen g3→h2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move fxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r6r/2pq1pk1/3b1npN/p1p1p3/1pP1PP2/3PB1Q1/PP4PP/R4R1K b - - 0 20

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