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

Position

White: king d3; queen b3; rook a1; knights d2/f7; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e5. Black: king g6; queen h1; rooks a8/f8; bishop h6; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa1 — queen h1→a1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe6+ — queen b3→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g6→g7).
3. Best move: Qf6+ — queen e6→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
4. Best move: Nxh6+ — knight f7→h6, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, exposed king, long, middlegame. The key move Nxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rn3r2/ppp2N2/3p2kb/4P3/3P4/1QPK4/PP1N4/R6q b - - 0 22

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