Chess Puzzle #0FyrX — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rook d1; knight d4; pawns a2/b2/c2/e3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rook a8; knights d6/e4; pawns a5/b4/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rf8 — rook a8→f8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen f4→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Ne6+ — knight d4→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
4. Best move: Nxc7 — knight e6→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/2q3pp/3n4/p7/1p1NnQ2/4P3/PPP3PP/3R2K1 b - - 4 23

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