Chess Puzzle #78iXn — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h4; bishop f4; knight g5; pawns a2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f5; rook a8; knight e2; pawns a7/b6/c5/d5/e4/g6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxf4 — queen f5→f4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h4→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
3. Best move: Ne6+ — knight g5→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f8→e8).
4. Best move: Nxf4 — knight e6→f4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, exposed king, fork, long. The key move is Qh7+.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/p7/1p4p1/2pp1qN1/4pB1Q/8/P3n1PP/7K b - - 7 30

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