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

Position

White: king a1; queen f2; rook f1; knights b1/c3; pawns a2/d4/e3/g5/h4. Black: king g8; queen b3; rook a8; knights c4/f8; pawns b5/c6/d5/e4/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne6 — knight f8→e6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf7+ — queen f2→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Rf2 — rook f1→f2. Opponent replies Qb4 (queen b3→b4).
4. Best move: Qxe6 — queen f7→e6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, clearance, fork, long, middlegame, quiet move. The key move is Qf7+.

Position data

FEN: r4nk1/6pp/2p5/1p1p2P1/2nPp2P/1qN1P3/P4Q2/KN3R2 b - - 1 26

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