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

Position

White: king f2; queen a5; knight c5; pawns a3/b4/c3/f4/g4/h3. Black: king f5; queen c6; knight c7; pawns a6/b5/d5/f6/g5/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxf4 — king f5→f4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc7+ — queen a5→c7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc7 (queen c6→c7, captures queen).
3. Best move: Ne6+ — knight c5→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke4 (king f4→e4).
4. Best move: Nxc7 — knight e6→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, endgame, fork, long, sacrifice. The key move Qxc7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/2n5/p1q2p1p/QpNp1kp1/1P3PP1/P1P4P/5K2/8 b - - 0 36

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