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

Position

White: king f1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishops c1/g2; knights c3/d4; pawns a2/b3/c4/e3. Black: king e8; queen g3; rooks a8/h8; bishop a7; knights g4/g8; pawns a6/b7/c7/d6/f7/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf3 — queen d1→f3. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nh2+ — knight g4→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king f1→e2).
3. Best move: Nxf3 — knight h2→f3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Nh2+.

Position data

FEN: r3k1nr/bpp2pp1/p2p4/8/2PN2n1/1PN1P1q1/P5B1/R1BQRK2 w kq - 0 17

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