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

Position

White: king g1; queen c6; rooks a1/f1; bishop h6; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/c2/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishop e6; knight c5; pawns a7/d6/e5/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc8 — rook a8→c8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen c6→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe8 (queen d8→e8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nf6+ — knight d5→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
4. Best move: Nxe8 — knight f6→e8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2qr1k1/p4p1p/2Qpb1pB/2nNp3/5P2/8/PPP3PP/R4RK1 b - - 0 16

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