Chess Puzzle #26Aol — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen h2; rook h1; bishop d3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/g3/g6. Black: king f8; queen a8; bishops e5/e6; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/f7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: hxg6 — pawn h7→g6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h2→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Bxh8 (bishop e5→h8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxh8+ — rook h1→h8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
4. Best move: Rxa8 — rook h8→a8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, sacrifice, skewer. The key move Rxh8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: q4k2/pp3p1p/2n1b1P1/4b3/4P3/3B2P1/PPP4Q/1K5R b - - 0 28

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