COMBINATION - Easy (Morphy-NN, Paris, 1858)

Morphy-NN, Paris, 1858

White to move

Clue #1

Think #1 - Is my King safe?

1. Bc5+ - The only way to attack the white King. But Nxc5 is not a problem.

Think #2 - How to attack the black King ?

1. Rxh6+ - gxh6 is forced (then the Pawn in h6 is unprotected).

2. Qd2 (or Qe3) - Mate threat (Rxh6+ gxh6 Qxh6#) so Black team must defend on the King side (Bf8 or Kh7) 

3. Qh5 - Same threat and forced moves for Black team.

...

Clue #2

Think #3 - Which black pieces are under fire?

1. Bd7 - Attacked once, defended once

2. c7 - Attacked once, defended once

3. g7 - Attacked once, defended twice

3. h6 - Attacked once, defended once

...

Solution

1. Qd2! - A fork on Bd7 defended once and now attacked twice (Think #3), and h6 with forcing moves because of the mate threat (Think #2). Bd7 is dead!