Chess Puzzle #0SHht — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen e3; rooks d1/e1; knight d5; pawns a4/b2/d7/e6/h3. Black: king h8; queen h5; rook g8; bishops d6/e4; pawns a6/b7/c4/g5/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe4 — queen e3→e4, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen h5→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
3. Best move: Qh2+ — queen h3→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
4. Best move: Rf8+ — rook g8→f8, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, long, middlegame. The key move Qxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6rk/1p1P4/p2bP2p/3N2pq/P1p1b3/4Q2P/1P6/3RR2K w - - 4 40

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