Chess Puzzle #Ya4Xe — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h6; knight g5; pawns a2/b3/d4/e5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f5; rook a8; pawns b4/d5/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxa2 — rook a8→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxh7 — knight g5→h7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxf2 (rook a2→f2, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Nf6+ — knight h7→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen f5→f6, captures knight).
4. Best move: exf6 — pawn e5→f6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move Nxh7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/5p1p/4p1pQ/3pPqN1/1p1P4/1P5P/P4PP1/7K b - - 4 36

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