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

Position

White: king g1; queen b7; rooks a1/d1; bishop b2; knight d4; pawns a2/b3/f2/g3/h4. Black: king f8; queen d8; rooks c8/h8; bishop c5; knight f6; pawns a7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne4 — knight f6→e4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe6+ — knight d4→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies fxe6 (pawn f7→e6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxg7+ — queen b7→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f8→e8).
4. Best move: Qxh8+ — queen g7→h8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Nxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rq1k1r/pQ3pp1/4pn2/2bp3p/3N3P/1P4P1/PB3P2/R2R2K1 b - - 2 19

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