Chess Puzzle #xOG6o — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rooks a1/h4; bishop e5; pawns a3/b2/d4/g2/g5/h2. Black: king g8; queen d5; rooks c8/f7; knight e6; pawns a7/b7/c6/e4/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd4 — knight e6→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen h6→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
3. Best move: Bd6+ — bishop e5→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f8→e8).
4. Best move: Rxh7 — rook h4→h7, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Qxg6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/pp3r1p/2p1n1pQ/3qBpP1/3Pp2R/P7/1P4PP/R5K1 b - - 9 22

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