Chess Puzzle #MZXU0 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rooks a1/g6; knight e1; pawns a3/d5/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks c7/f8; bishop d6; pawns a7/b7/e5/f5/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd8 — rook f8→d8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nf3 — knight e1→f3. Opponent replies Qxf2+ (queen b6→f2, captures pawn, gives check).
3. Best move: Kxf2 — king g1→f2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Nf3.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/ppr3p1/1q1b2RQ/3Ppp2/8/P5P1/5P1P/R3N1K1 b - - 0 26

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