Chess Puzzle #7XpgK — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rook a1; knights c3/d4; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen a5; rook h8; bishops e7/f5; knight b4; pawns a7/b7/e6/f6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kf7 — king e8→f7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen d1→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king f7→f8).
3. Best move: Nxe6+ — knight d4→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bxe6 (bishop f5→e6, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qxa5 — queen h5→a5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, long, middlegame. The key move Nxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4k2r/pp2b2p/4pp2/q4b2/1n1N4/2N5/PP3PPP/R2Q2K1 b k - 1 17

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