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

Position

White: king b1; queen f4; rooks d1/f3; knight h4; pawns a2/b2/c3/e5/f2/g3/h5. Black: king h7; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; knight e8; pawns a5/b6/c5/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kh8 — king h7→h8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ng6+ — knight h4→g6, gives check. Opponent replies fxg6 (pawn f7→g6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen f4→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf8 (queen e7→f8, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f3→f8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Qxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3nr2/4qppk/1p2p2p/p1ppP2P/5Q1N/2P2RP1/PP3P2/1K1R4 b - - 0 26

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