Chess Puzzle #Mbor3 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d3; queen g2; rooks a1/h1; knight h4; pawns a4/b5/c4/e4/f2/g3/h6. Black: king c8; queen g5; rooks d8/f8; knight g8; pawns a5/b6/c5/d4/e5/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxh6 — knight g8→h6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nf3 — knight h4→f3. Opponent replies Rxf3+ (rook f8→f3, captures knight, gives check).
3. Best move: Qxf3 — queen g2→f3, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, master, middlegame, short. The key move is Nf3.

Position data

FEN: 2kr1rn1/7p/1p4pP/pPp1p1q1/P1PpP2N/3K2P1/5PQ1/R6R b - - 3 26

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