Chess Puzzle #EjT4y — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h4; rooks a1/e1; bishops d3/h6; knight f3; pawns a2/a3/c3/e5/f2/g6/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishop b7; knights c6/d5; pawns a5/b6/d7/e6/f5/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: gxh6 — pawn g7→h6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh6 — queen h4→h6, captures pawn. Opponent replies d6 (pawn d7→d6).
3. Best move: g7 — pawn g6→g7. Opponent replies Qxg7 (queen c7→g7, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Rg1 — rook e1→g1.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Qxh6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1bqp2p1/1pn1p1PB/p2nPp2/7Q/P1PB1N2/P4P1P/R3R2K b - - 0 18

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