Chess Puzzle #3044i — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen e1; bishops d4/e2; pawns a3/b4/e3/f2/f6. Black: king g7; queen b7; rook h8; knight d5; pawns a5/b5/c4/e4/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxf6 — knight d5→f6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bxf6+ — bishop d4→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf6 (king g7→f6, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qc3+ — queen e1→c3, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king f6→f7).
4. Best move: Qxh8 — queen c3→h8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, endgame, long, skewer. The key move Bxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 7r/1q4k1/5Pp1/pp1n4/1PpBp3/P3P3/4BP2/2K1Q3 b - - 0 30

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