Chess Puzzle #127La — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen g6; rook g2; bishop d2; knight h3; pawns a2/b3/c4/e5/f4. Black: king f8; queen e4; rook h8; bishop c5; knight e6; pawns a5/b4/d3/f5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe6 — queen g6→e6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxh3+ — rook h8→h3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh3 (king h2→h3, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qf3+ — queen e4→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh4 (king h3→h4).
4. Best move: Be7+ — bishop c5→e7, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, exposed king, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5k1r/8/4n1Q1/p1b1Pp2/1pP1qP2/1P1p3N/P2B2RK/8 w - - 1 39

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