Chess Puzzle #XeHNJ — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g3; queen d3; rook f1; knight e4; pawns d4/h3. Black: king g8; queen d5; rooks b2/c7; pawns e6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rcc2 — rook c7→c2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nf6+ — knight e4→f6, gives check. Opponent replies gxf6 (pawn g7→f6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qg6+ — queen d3→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
4. Best move: Qxf6+ — queen g6→f6, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

clearance, crushing, endgame, long, sacrifice. The key move Qxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/2r3p1/4p2p/3q4/3PN3/3Q2KP/1r6/5R2 b - - 1 52

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