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

Position

White: king h1; queen f7; rook g1; knight b5; pawns a4/g2/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen e4; rook e5; bishop f6; knight b4; pawns a5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook e5→e8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nd6 — knight b5→d6. Opponent replies Qe6 (queen e4→e6).
3. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen f7→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe8 (queen e6→e8, captures queen).
4. Best move: Nxe8 — knight d6→e8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 7k/5Qp1/5b1p/pN2r3/Pn2q3/6P1/6PP/6RK b - - 12 38

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