Chess Puzzle #0Mx5T — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f1; rook a1; bishop c1; knights b1/g5; pawns a4/d5/e4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rook a8; bishop c8; knights c2/g4; pawns b7/c7/d6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxa1 — knight c2→a1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen f1→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Bb2 — bishop c1→b2. Opponent replies Nf6 (knight g4→f6).
4. Best move: Bxf6 — bishop b2→f6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame. The key move is Qf7+.

Position data

FEN: r1bq2k1/1pp3pp/3p4/3P2N1/P3P1n1/8/2n3PP/RNB2Q1K b - - 3 19

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