Chess Puzzle #1rgmS — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops b2/f3; knight d5; pawns a2/b3/c2/d2/f2/h3. Black: king e8; queen d7; rooks a8/h8; bishop e7; knight g5; pawns a7/b7/c5/d4/d6/f7/g7/h5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe7 — knight d5→e7, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen d7→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h2→g1).
3. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight g5→f3, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf3 (queen d1→f3, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qxf3 — queen h3→f3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Qxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/pp1qbpp1/3p4/2pN2np/3p4/1P3B1P/PBPP1P1K/R2Q1R2 w kq - 2 15

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