Chess Puzzle #CNtTu — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen g3; knight d7; pawns b3/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e1; knight d5; pawns a7/b6/c6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe7 — queen e1→e7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb8+ — queen g3→b8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
3. Best move: Nf8+ — knight d7→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf8 (queen e7→f8, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qxf8 — queen b8→f8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move is Qb8+.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/p2N1pp1/1pp4p/3n4/3P4/1P4QP/5PPK/4q3 b - - 1 28

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