Chess Puzzle #18GHt — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks b1/e1; bishop b3; pawns a3/c5/d4/f2/g3/h3. Black: king d7; queen c6; rooks a8/f5; knight f4; pawns a7/b7/e6/e7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxh3+ — knight f4→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Kh2 — king g1→h2. Opponent replies Rxf2+ (rook f5→f2, captures pawn, gives check).
3. Best move: Kxh3 — king h2→h3, captures knight. Opponent replies Qg2+ (queen c6→g2, gives check).
4. Best move: Kg4 — king h3→g4.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move is Kh2.

Position data

FEN: r7/pp1kp2p/2q1p1p1/2P2r2/3P1n2/PB2Q1PP/5P2/1R2R1K1 b - - 0 27

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