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

Position

White: king b1; queen g3; rooks d1/h1; bishop d3; knights c3/d4; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/g5; knight g4; pawns a7/b7/d6/e7/g6/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxf2 — knight g4→f2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh6 — rook h1→h6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Bxh6 (bishop g5→h6, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen g3→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bg7 (bishop h6→g7).
4. Best move: Bc4+ — bishop d3→c4, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice, skewer. The key move Qxg6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1rk1/pp2p3/3p2pp/6b1/3NP1n1/2NB2Q1/PPP2PP1/1K1R3R b - - 5 18

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