Chess Puzzle #XQnt4 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g3; queen f6; knight f4; pawns a3/c3/d4/f3/g4/h3. Black: king e8; queen b2; knight e7; pawns a7/b5/c4/d5/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen b2→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe7+ — queen f6→e7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe7 (king e8→e7, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxd5+ — knight f4→d5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e7→d7).
4. Best move: Nxc3 — knight d5→c3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, endgame, exposed king, fork, long, sacrifice. The key move Qxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4k3/p3n2p/5Qp1/1p1p4/2pP1NP1/P1P2PKP/1q6/8 b - - 1 48

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