Chess Puzzle #3LQ19 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks e1/e7; knight f5; pawns a2/c2/f2/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks b8/d8; bishop c4; pawns a6/d5/e4/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: g6 — pawn g7→g6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxh6+ — knight f5→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
3. Best move: Rxf7+ — rook e7→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf7 (queen f6→f7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Nxf7 — knight h6→f7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Nxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r1r2k1/4Rpp1/p4q1p/3p1N2/2b1p1P1/6QP/P1P2P2/4R1K1 b - - 1 29

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