Chess Puzzle #oDI8D — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen b3; rooks a1/g1; bishop e3; knight g5; pawns a2/b2/c2/f4/h4. Black: king g8; queen b8; rooks a8/d8; bishop g7; knight d5; pawns b7/c6/e7/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe3 — knight d5→e3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen b3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qxg6 — queen f7→g6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nxc2+ (knight e3→c2, captures pawn, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxc2 — queen g6→c2, captures knight.

Tactical themes

crushing, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Qxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rq1r2k1/1p2ppb1/2p3p1/3n2Np/5P1P/1Q2B3/PPP5/R3K1R1 b Q - 6 20

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