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

Position

White: king h1; queen d2; rooks f1/h4; knight g3; pawns b3/f3/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen d6; rooks d8/h8; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d3/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kg7 — king h7→g7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nf5+ — knight g3→f5, gives check. Opponent replies gxf5 (pawn g6→f5, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qg5+ — queen d2→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g7→f8).
4. Best move: Rxh8+ — rook h4→h8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxh8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r3r/ppp2p1k/3q1np1/8/7R/1P1p1PN1/3Q2PP/5R1K b - - 8 29

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