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

Position

White: king h2; queen a2; rooks e7/g2; knight f7; pawns a4/b5/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen f3; rooks b4/d1; bishop g7; pawns a5/c2/g6/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: c1=Q — pawn c2→c1, promotes to queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxh6+ — knight f7→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
3. Best move: Qg8+ — queen a2→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh6 (king h7→h6, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qxg7+ — queen g8→g7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kg5 (king h6→g5).
5. Best move: h4+ — pawn h3→h4, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, double check, exposed king, middlegame, pin, very long. The key move Nxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/4RNb1/6pp/pP6/Pr6/5qPP/Q1p3RK/3r4 b - - 1 34

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