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

Position

White: king c1; queen h4; rooks d1/h1; knights c3/g1; pawns a2/b2/c2/f3/g2/h5. Black: king g7; queen b8; rooks a8/f8; bishop b7; knight e3; pawns a7/c4/c5/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd1 — knight e3→d1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: h6+ — pawn h5→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
3. Best move: Qf6 — queen h4→f6. Opponent replies Qf4+ (queen b8→f4, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxf4 — queen f6→f4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move is h6+.

Position data

FEN: rq3r2/pb3pkp/4p1p1/2p4P/2p4Q/2N1nP2/PPP3P1/2KR2NR b - - 7 19

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