Chess Puzzle #8AFYD — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks d1/e1; bishops b2/c4; knight c3; pawns a2/b3/e3/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishops f7/h6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f5/g6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: dxc4 — pawn d5→c4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nd5 — knight c3→d5. Opponent replies Bxd5 (bishop f7→d5, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qh8+ — queen d4→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
4. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h8→h7, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, kingside attack, long, middlegame, quiet move, sacrifice. The key move Qxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2qr1k1/pp3b1p/2p3pb/3p1p2/2BQ4/1PN1PP2/PB4PP/3RR1K1 b - - 0 21

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