Chess Puzzle #PiiZ1 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen c3; rook a1; bishop c2; knight h5; pawns a2/b2/e3/f3/h2. Black: king h6; queen h4; rooks a8/f8; knight b4; pawns a6/b5/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc2 — knight b4→c2, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg7+ — queen c3→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh5 (king h6→h5, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen g7→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg5 (king h5→g5).
4. Best move: Rg1+ — rook a1→g1, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/5p1p/p3p1pk/1p5N/1n5q/2Q1PP2/PPB4P/R6K b - - 0 25

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