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

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rooks c5/h3; knights d2/f6; pawns a3/b4/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a2; rooks a8/f8; bishops b7/h6; pawns a6/b5/d4/e6/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: gxf6 — pawn g7→f6, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh6 — queen h5→h6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qa1+ (queen a2→a1, gives check).
3. Best move: Nb1 — knight d2→b1. Opponent replies Qxb1+ (queen a1→b1, captures knight, gives check).
4. Best move: Rc1 — rook c5→c1.

Tactical themes

crushing, hanging piece, long, middlegame. The key move Qxh6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1b3pp1/p3pN1b/1pR1P2Q/1P1p4/P6R/q2N2PP/7K b - - 7 24

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