Chess Puzzle #IAvr1 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c3; rooks d1/f1; bishop b1; knight g5; pawns a3/b2/d5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks a8/e8; bishop b7; knight f6; pawns a6/b5/c4/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd5 — knight f6→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen c3→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh8 (king g8→h8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxf7+ — knight g5→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
4. Best move: Nxd6 — knight f7→d6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, deflection, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Nxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/1b3p1p/p2q1np1/1p1P2N1/2p5/P1Q5/1P3PPP/1B1R1RK1 b - - 1 22

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