Chess Puzzle #0HpoC — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen h6; rooks b1/g1; knight f7; pawns a4/b4/e5/f2/f3/h3. Black: king g7; queen d4; rooks a8/e8; knight e6; pawns a6/b7/c6/d5/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxf7 — king g7→f7, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h6→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king f7→f8).
3. Best move: Rxg6 — rook g1→g6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxf2+ (queen d4→f2, captures pawn, gives check).
4. Best move: Rg2 — rook g6→g2.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, long, middlegame. The key move Qxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r3/1p3Nkp/p1p1n1pQ/3pP3/PP1q4/5P1P/5P1K/1R4R1 b - - 2 26

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