Chess Puzzle #CnO1h — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rook c1; knight f3; pawns a2/b4/c3/d4/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen c6; rook g8; knight e4; pawns a6/b7/c7/d5/f5/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc3 — knight e4→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc3 — rook c1→c3, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxc3 (queen c6→c3, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qe6+ — queen e2→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
4. Best move: Qxg8+ — queen e6→g8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, fork, long, sacrifice. The key move Qxg8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2k3r1/1pp4p/p1q5/3p1p2/1P1Pn3/2P2N2/P3Q1PP/2R3K1 b - - 1 25

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