Chess Puzzle #6By15 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d3; queen g6; rook d1; knight e5; pawns a2/c3/f3. Black: king h7; queen f4; rook b8; bishop g7; pawns b2/f5/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kh8 — king h7→h8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh5+ — queen g6→h5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bh6 (bishop g7→h6).
3. Best move: Ng6+ — knight e5→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
4. Best move: Nxf4 — knight g6→f4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, exposed king, fork, long. The key move Qxh5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r6/6bk/6Q1/4Np1p/5q2/2PK1P2/Pp6/3R4 b - - 0 35

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