Chess Puzzle #27hDB — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e2; queen e3; rooks g1/h1; knight h4; pawns a2/b3/c4/d3/e4/f6/h5. Black: king h8; queen e6; rooks a8/g8; bishop d7; pawns a5/b4/c5/d6/e5/f7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kh7 — king h8→h7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nf5 — knight h4→f5. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen e6→f6, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Rg6 — rook g1→g6. Opponent replies Rxg6 (rook g8→g6, captures rook).
4. Best move: hxg6+ — pawn h5→g6, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

collinear move, crushing, long, middlegame. The key move hxg6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5rk/3b1p2/3pqP1p/p1p1p2P/1pP1P2N/1P1PQ3/P3K3/6RR b - - 2 32

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