Chess Puzzle #F2FqF — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen h5; rook e1; bishop d5; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen b6; rooks a8/g7; bishop c8; pawns a7/b7/c7/f5/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Be6 — bishop c8→e6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh6 — queen h5→h6. Opponent replies Bxd5 (bishop e6→d5, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Nd7+ — knight e5→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f8→g8).
4. Best move: Nxb6 — knight d7→b6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, exposed king, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The key move is Qh6.

Position data

FEN: r1b2k2/ppp3rp/1q6/3BNp1Q/8/8/PPP3PP/1K2R3 b - - 0 22

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