Chess Puzzle #550PO — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen f6; rooks g1/g3; knight g5; pawns a5/g2/h3. Black: king c7; queen b2; rooks d2/e7; knight e2; pawns b5/b7/d6/e5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd7 — rook e7→d7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne6+ — knight g5→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kc6 (king c7→c6).
3. Best move: Qf3+ — queen f6→f3, gives check. Opponent replies e4 (pawn e5→e4).
4. Best move: Qxe4+ — queen f3→e4, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, master, middlegame. The key move Qxe4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/1pk1r3/3p1Q2/Pp2p1N1/8/6RP/1q1rn1PK/6R1 b - - 5 42

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