Chess Puzzle #8Nh14 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h3; queen f5; rook h5; knight e6; pawns a3/b4/d5/e4/g3/h4. Black: king g8; queen d2; rook e7; bishop d6; pawns a6/b7/e5/f6/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd3 — queen d2→d3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh6 — rook h5→h6, captures pawn. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qg6+ — queen f5→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
4. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen g6→h6, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, kingside attack, long, sacrifice. The key move Qxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/1p2r1p1/p2bNp1p/3PpQ1R/1P2P2P/P5PK/3q4/8 b - - 13 40

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