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

Position

White: king h2; queen h7; bishops f4/g6; knight f3; pawns a3/b4/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king f8; queen e8; rook a8; bishop b6; knights a7/e2; pawns a6/b5/c7/d5/f6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxf4 — knight e2→f4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h7→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
3. Best move: Qxg7+ — queen h8→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd6 (king e7→d6).
4. Best move: Bxe8 — bishop g6→e8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, long, middlegame. The key move Qxg7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3qk2/n1p3pQ/pb3pBp/1p1p4/1P1P1B2/P4N1P/4nPPK/8 b - - 3 25

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