Chess Puzzle #EBmWt — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rook f1; knight g5; pawns c4/d4/f2/g4/h3. Black: king f8; queen c7; rook a8; bishop g6; pawns a7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: a5 — pawn a7→a5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxe6+ — knight g5→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies fxe6 (pawn f7→e6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qf3+ — queen e2→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Bf7 (bishop g6→f7).
4. Best move: Qxa8+ — queen f3→a8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, fork, long, sacrifice. The key move Nxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4k2/p1q2ppp/4p1b1/6N1/2PP2P1/7P/4QP2/5RK1 b - - 0 24

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