Chess Puzzle #R5lx9 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rooks a1/h3; bishop c1; knights d3/g4; pawns a2/b3/f5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f7; rooks c3/e2; bishops b7/d6; knight b6; pawns a6/c7/d5/f6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: d4 — pawn d5→d4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxh6+ — knight g4→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qg4+ — queen h4→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Qg7 (queen f7→g7).
4. Best move: Qxe2 — queen g4→e2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, clearance, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Nxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/1bp2qp1/pn1b1p1p/3p1P2/6NQ/1PrN3R/P3r1PP/R1B3K1 b - - 5 24

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