Chess Puzzle #Li2fn — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen f6; rooks d1/h1; knight f5; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks c8/d8; bishop b7; knight d3; pawns a6/b5/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe5 — queen c7→e5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne7+ — knight f5→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
3. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f6→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qg7 (queen e5→g7).
4. Best move: Qxg7+ — queen f7→g7, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rr2k1/1bq2p2/p4Qp1/1p3N1p/4P2P/3n4/PPP3P1/1K1R3R b - - 0 24

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