Chess Puzzle #9MsdZ — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knight b5; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king d7; queen f6; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knights c6/g8; pawns c7/d6/e6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: e5 — pawn e6→e5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg4+ — queen d1→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Qe6 (queen f6→e6).
3. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen g4→e6, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe6 (king d7→e6, captures queen).
4. Best move: Nxc7+ — knight b5→c7, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, long, opening. The key move Qxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4bnr/2pk2pp/2nppq2/1N6/4P3/8/PPP2PPP/R1BQ1RK1 b - - 0 12

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