Chess Puzzle #HX8xo — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen e3; rook e1; knight f7; pawns f3/g2. Black: king e8; queen a4; rook c8; knight e7; pawns c4/d5/e6/g6/g7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxf7 — king e8→f7, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen e3→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king f7→f8).
3. Best move: Qxe7+ — queen e6→e7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f8→g8).
4. Best move: Qe6+ — queen e7→e6, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move Qxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r1k3/4nNp1/4p1p1/3p4/q1p5/4QP2/6P1/4RK2 b - - 0 28

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