Chess Puzzle #KkMhu — Intermediate, Black to move, opening

Position

White: king h2; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops c4/e3; knights c7/f3; pawns a4/b4/c2/d3/e4/f2. Black: king d7; queen g4; rooks a8/h8; bishops e7/h5; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/d6/e5/f7/g5/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe5+ — knight f3→e5, captures pawn, gives check. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nxe5 — knight c6→e5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxg4+ (queen d1→g4, captures queen, gives check).
3. Best move: Nxg4+ — knight e5→g4, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, hanging piece, master, middlegame, short. The key move Nxg4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r6r/1pNkbp2/p1np3p/4p1pb/PPB1P1q1/3PBN2/2P2P1K/R2Q1R2 w - - 1 17

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