Chess Puzzle #0P7Rc — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h3; rooks a1/h4; bishop h6; knight h7; pawns a2/b2/f3/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen e4; rooks d8/e8; bishop d6; knight d4; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxf3+ — queen e4→f3, captures pawn, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf3 — queen h3→f3, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxf3 (knight d4→f3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nf6+ — knight h7→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
4. Best move: Rh3 — rook h4→h3.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Qxf3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3rr1k1/pp3p1N/2pb2pB/8/3nq1PR/5P1Q/PP5P/R6K b - - 0 26

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