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

Position

White: king e1; queen e3; rooks a1/h1; knight g4; pawns a4/b3/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g7; queen d8; rooks a8/f5; bishop a6; pawns a5/b4/c5/d6/e7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: h5 — pawn h7→h5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh6+ — queen e3→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g7→f7).
3. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h6→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f7→e8).
4. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen h7→g6, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, long, middlegame. The key move Qxg6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q4/4p1kp/b2p2p1/p1pP1r2/Pp4N1/1P2Q2P/5PP1/R3K2R b KQ - 1 24

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