Chess Puzzle #1JVMc — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a1; rook f1; bishop d3; knight f3; pawns b5/c5/d4/e3/f2/g2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rook h8; bishop h4; knight e4; pawns b7/c6/d5/e6/f7/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxh4 — knight f3→h4, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxh4 — queen d8→h4, captures knight. Opponent replies Qa8+ (queen a1→a8, gives check).
3. Best move: Ke7 — king e8→e7. Opponent replies Qxh8 (queen a8→h8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxh8 — queen h4→h8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Qxh4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3qk2r/1p3pp1/2p1p3/1PPp4/3Pn2b/3BPN2/5PP1/Q4RK1 w k - 0 21

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