Chess Puzzle #EzQ24 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f5; rooks e1/f1; knight g5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h6; queen d8; rooks a8/e7; bishop d6; knights a6/f6; pawns a5/b7/c6/d5/f7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qh8 — queen d8→h8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe7 — rook e1→e7, captures rook. Opponent replies Bxe7 (bishop d6→e7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Nxf7+ — knight g5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h6→g7).
4. Best move: Nxh8 — knight f7→h8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, capturing the defender, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Nxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q4/1p2rp2/n1pb1n1k/p2p1QN1/3P4/2P4P/PP3PP1/4RRK1 b - - 1 21

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