Chess Puzzle #3Px2l — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; knights d6/f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/g4/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: gxf3 — pawn g4→f3, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd5+ — queen d1→d5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Nf7+ — knight d6→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qxf7 — queen d5→f7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Qd5+.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/ppp3pp/2nN4/8/6p1/5N2/PPP2PPP/R2Q1RK1 b - - 0 15

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