Chess Puzzle #3l9W5 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks a1/f1; knight h5; pawns a3/c4/d3/f2/f3/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks c8/e8; bishops d7/f8; knight d5; pawns a5/c5/f7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nf6 — knight d5→f6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg5+ — queen d2→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
3. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight h5→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen d8→f6, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qxf6 — queen g5→f6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Nxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rqrbk1/3b1p2/8/p1pn3N/2P5/P2P1P1P/3Q1P2/R4RK1 b - - 0 26

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