Chess Puzzle #1nhd9 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d1; queen g4; rooks c6/h4; bishop e3; knight b3; pawns a4/b2/c3/d4/e5/f4/g5. Black: king d8; queen f7; rooks b8/h8; bishops b6/f5; pawns a5/c7/d5/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qh5 — queen g4→h5. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxh5+ — queen f7→h5, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Rxh5 (rook h4→h5, captures queen).
3. Best move: Bg4+ — bishop f5→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king d1→e1).
4. Best move: Bxh5 — bishop g4→h5, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxh5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r1k3r/2p2q1p/1bR5/p2pPbP1/P2P1PQR/1NP1B3/1P6/3K4 w - - 1 35

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