Chess Puzzle #FXYc1 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen g2; rooks d1/g1; bishop c4; knights d5/f5; pawns a2/b2/c2/h6. Black: king h8; queen e5; rooks a8/f8; bishop h7; knights e4/e8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/f7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxf5 — queen e5→f5, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg7+ — queen g2→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Nxg7 (knight e8→g7, captures queen).
3. Best move: hxg7+ — pawn h6→g7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
4. Best move: Ne7# — knight d5→e7, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, exposed king, fork, long, mate, mate in 3, middlegame, sacrifice. The combination ends with Ne7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: r3nr1k/ppp2p1b/3p3P/3NqN2/2B1n3/8/PPP3Q1/2KR2R1 b - - 1 23

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