Chess Puzzle #1JVuQ — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f2; queen d8; knight f7; pawns a3/b4/c4/g3/h3. Black: king h7; queen e4; knight f6; pawns a7/b6/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc4 — queen e4→c4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen d8→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg6 (king h7→g6).
3. Best move: Ne5+ — knight f7→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf5 (king g6→f5).
4. Best move: Nxc4 — knight e5→c4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, long. The key move is Qh8+.

Position data

FEN: 3Q4/p4Npk/1p3n1p/8/1PP1q3/P5PP/5K2/8 b - - 4 36

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