Chess Puzzle #1XJb3 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f1; rooks a1/h7; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d5/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen d4; rooks e8/g6; knights d1/h5; pawns a7/b7/d6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne3 — knight d1→e3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf7 — queen f1→f7. Opponent replies Ng3+ (knight h5→g3, gives check).
3. Best move: hxg3 — pawn h2→g3, captures knight. Opponent replies Rh6+ (rook g6→h6, gives check).
4. Best move: Rxh6 — rook h7→h6, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Qf7.

Position data

FEN: 1k2r3/pp5R/3p2r1/3P3n/3q4/2N5/PPP3PP/R2n1Q1K b - - 4 25

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