Chess Puzzle #3ex2I — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; bishops c2/d2; pawns a2/b2/c4/d4/f2/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen d6; bishop b8; knight e6; pawns a7/b7/c6/f6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd4 — knight e6→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc8+ — queen g4→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Qf8 (queen d6→f8).
3. Best move: Bxh7+ — bishop c2→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g8→h7, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Qxf8 — queen c8→f8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, kingside attack, long. The key move Bxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1b4k1/pp3ppp/2pqnp2/8/2PP2Q1/6PP/PPBB1P2/6K1 b - - 2 22

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