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

Position

White: king g1; queen e1; rook a1; bishop c2; knights f4/g4; pawns c4/d5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rook a8; bishop c8; knights c5/f6; pawns a4/a6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxg4 — knight f6→g4, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Qf8 (queen d6→f8).
3. Best move: Bh7+ — bishop c2→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g8→h7, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Qxf8 — queen e8→f8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move is Qe8+.

Position data

FEN: r1b3k1/5pp1/p2q1n1p/2nP4/p1P2NN1/8/2B2PPP/R3Q1K1 b - - 0 25

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