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

Position

White: king b1; queen h6; rooks c1/g1; knight g5; pawns a3/b2/d4. Black: king g8; queen f2; rooks a7/f8; knight f6; pawns b3/c6/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd4 — queen f2→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen h6→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Ne6+ — knight g5→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king f8→f7).
4. Best move: Nxd4 — knight e6→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/r6p/2p2npQ/5pN1/3P4/Pp6/1P3q2/1KR3R1 b - - 1 27

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