Chess Puzzle #ec2Q9 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks a1/e1; bishop b3; knight g4; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/f3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks d8/f8; bishop b7; knight f4; pawns a7/b6/c5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ng6 — knight f4→g6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxh6+ — knight g4→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rxe6 — rook e1→e6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qd7 (queen c6→d7).
4. Best move: Rxg6+ — rook e6→g6, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Nxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/pb3pp1/1pq1p2p/2p5/5nN1/PB1P1PQP/1PP3P1/R3R1K1 b - - 4 22

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