Chess Puzzle #aoS66 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g5; rooks f1/h3; knight h5; pawns a2/e4/f6. Black: king g8; queen b2; rooks c2/f8; knight g7; pawns a7/b7/d4/d6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne6 — knight g7→e6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh6 — queen g5→h6. Opponent replies Rc3 (rook c2→c3).
3. Best move: Ng3 — knight h5→g3. Opponent replies Rxg3+ (rook c3→g3, captures knight, gives check).
4. Best move: Rxg3 — rook h3→g3, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, quiet move. The key move is Qh6.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/pp3pn1/3p1Pp1/6QN/3pP3/7R/Pqr5/5RK1 b - - 2 27

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