Chess Puzzle #1zERh — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen h6; bishop e2; knight f4; pawns b2/g3/h4. Black: king h8; queen d6; rook f8; bishop a2; pawns b7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf6 — queen d6→f6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxg6+ — knight f4→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
3. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen h6→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf8 (queen f6→f8, captures queen).
4. Best move: Nxf8 — knight g6→f8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, long, pin. The key move Nxg6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/1p5p/3q2pQ/8/5N1P/6P1/bP2B2K/8 b - - 2 39

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