Chess Puzzle #20mKH — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e1; bishop c2; knight g5; pawns a2/b3/c4/d5/f2/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen d8; rook a8; bishop c8; knight b8; pawns a6/b4/c5/d6/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd7 — knight b8→d7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe6+ — queen e1→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Nf7+ — knight g5→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
4. Best move: Nxd8 — knight f7→d8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Qe6+.

Position data

FEN: rnbq2k1/7p/p2p2p1/2pP1pN1/1pP4P/1P6/P1B2PP1/4Q1K1 b - - 0 19

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