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

Position

White: king g1; queen e7; rooks b3/f1; knight c5; pawns f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e5; rooks a2/f8; knight f6; pawns a7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ng4 — knight f6→g4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen e7→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nd7+ — knight c5→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
4. Best move: Nxe5 — knight d7→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, equality, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/p3Qppp/4pn2/2N1q3/8/1R6/r4PPP/5RK1 b - - 1 23

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