Chess Puzzle #QmVG3 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks a1/f1; bishop f7; knight e7; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h7; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight f6; pawns a5/b5/c6/d6/e5/g6/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf7 — rook f8→f7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen g3→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king h7→h8).
3. Best move: Qxf7 — queen g6→f7, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxe7 (queen c7→e7, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qxe7 — queen f7→e7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxg6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2r2/2q1NB1k/2pp1npp/pp2p3/4P3/P2P2QP/1PP2PP1/R4RK1 b - - 0 22

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