Chess Puzzle #NC3v3 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rook f1; bishop f4; knight c2; pawns a4/b2/d3/d5/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen d7; rooks e8/f8; bishop b6; pawns a5/b7/c7/d4/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa4 — queen d7→a4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bxh6 — bishop f4→h6, captures pawn. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Rf6 — rook f1→f6. Opponent replies Qc6 (queen a4→c6).
4. Best move: dxc6 — pawn d5→c6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

clearance, crushing, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Bxh6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4rr1k/1ppq1pp1/1b5p/p2P4/P2p1B2/3P2QP/1PN3P1/5RK1 b - - 6 32

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