Chess Puzzle #QUy2o — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen a8; rook b1; knights d5/h5; pawns a2/c5/f2/g2. Black: king h7; queen c7; rook h4; knights d4/h3; pawns c6/e4/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qh2 — queen c7→h2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nhf6+ — knight h5→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg6 (king h7→g6).
3. Best move: Qe8+ — queen a8→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf5 (king g6→f5).
4. Best move: g4+ — pawn g2→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Rxg4 (rook h4→g4, captures pawn).
5. Best move: Ne3+ — knight d5→e3, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, very long. The key move is Nhf6+.

Position data

FEN: Q7/2q3pk/2p4p/2PN3N/3np2r/7n/P4PP1/1R3K2 b - - 1 33

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