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

Position

White: king h1; queen e4; rooks d1/g1; knight f7; pawns e7/f2/h2. Black: king g8; queen h3; rooks a8/f8; knight f5; pawns a7/b7/c5/d4/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rfe8 — rook f8→e8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf5 — queen e4→f5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxf5 (queen h3→f5, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxh6+ — knight f7→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
4. Best move: Nxf5 — knight h6→f5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, deflection, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The key move Nxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pp2PNp1/7p/2p2n2/3pQ3/7q/5P1P/3R2RK b - - 0 32

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