Chess Puzzle #0r974 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rooks b1/f1; bishop e3; knight h2; pawns b2/c4/d5/f2. Black: king g8; queen b3; rooks a8/f8; bishop g7; pawns a6/b7/c7/d6/e5/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxh6 — bishop e3→h6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxf3+ — queen b3→f3, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Nxf3 (knight h2→f3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Bxh6 — bishop g7→h6, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, intermezzo, middlegame, short. The key move Qxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1pp2pb1/p2p2pp/3Pp3/2P5/1q2BQ2/1P3P1N/1R3R1K w - - 0 21

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