Chess Puzzle #1iOTm — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks e1/e2; bishop c2; knight f1; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h5. Black: king g8; queen f7; rooks e8/f8; knights g4/h6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/g5/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxf2 — knight g4→f2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen d3→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxh7 (queen f7→h7, captures queen).
3. Best move: Bxh7+ — bishop c2→h7, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g8→h7, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Rxe8 — rook e2→e8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, master, middlegame. The key move Qxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4rrk1/pp3q1p/2p4n/3p2pP/6n1/3Q4/PPB1RPP1/4RNK1 b - - 11 23

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