Chess Puzzle #BHNF8 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h3; queen c7; rook h1; knight e5; pawns b3/d4/g3/h2. Black: king e7; queen e3; rook h8; knights d7/e4; pawns a7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h5. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd8 — rook h8→d8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nc6+ — knight e5→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king e7→f6).
3. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen c7→d8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Qxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 7r/p1Qnkpp1/4p3/3pN2p/3Pn3/1P2q1PK/7P/7R b - - 0 22

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