Chess Puzzle #3xU6f — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; bishop c2; knight e5; pawns a4/d4/f4/g4/h2. Black: king g8; rooks b4/c8; bishop d6; knight f6; pawns a5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd5 — knight f6→d5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen d3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
3. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h7→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
4. Best move: Qxc8 — queen h8→c8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, skewer. The key move is Qh7+.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/5pp1/3bpn1p/p3N3/Pr1P1PP1/3Q4/2B4P/6K1 b - - 0 27

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