Chess Puzzle #122Xz — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d2; queen g3; rooks g1/h1; knight g6; pawns a2/c3/d4/f4/h6. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks c8/f8; bishop h7; knight d6; pawns a6/e4/e6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxg6 — bishop h7→g6, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen g3→g6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qg7+ — queen g6→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Qxg7 (queen c7→g7, captures queen).
4. Best move: hxg7+ — pawn h6→g7, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, double check, exposed king, long, middlegame. The key move Qxg6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/2q4b/p2np1NP/8/3PpP2/2P3Q1/P2K4/6RR b - - 0 30

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