Chess Puzzle #8pi6J — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rook a1; bishop h4; knights d6/f5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e4/g2. Black: king g8; queen h5; rooks a8/f8; knights c6/g4; pawns a6/b7/c5/d4/e5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: g6 — pawn g7→g6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxg4 — queen d1→g4, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxg4 (queen h5→g4, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nh6+ — knight f5→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
4. Best move: Nxg4 — knight h6→g4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, equality, fork, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The key move Qxg4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1p4pp/p1nN4/2p1pN1q/3pP1nB/3P4/PPP3P1/R2Q2K1 b - - 7 26

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