Chess Puzzle #ASa7e — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks d1/e1; knights b5/e4; pawns a2/b2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen h4; rooks f3/f8; knights c4/e5; pawns b7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: gxf3 — pawn g2→f3, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight e5→f3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
3. Best move: Nxe1 — knight f3→e1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Nxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/1p4pp/8/1N2n3/2n1N2q/5r2/PPQ3PP/3RR1K1 w - - 0 24

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