Chess Puzzle #2euyY — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen f3; rooks d2/f1; knight d5; pawns b2/b3/e5/f2/h3. Black: king h8; queen h4; rook f8; bishop b6; knight f4; pawns a6/b5/c7/f5/g4/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxf4 — queen f3→f4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen h4→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h2→g1).
3. Best move: g3 — pawn g4→g3. Opponent replies Qxh6+ (queen f4→h6, captures pawn, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxh6 — queen h3→h6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/2p5/pb5p/1p1NPp2/5npq/1P3Q1P/1P1R1P1K/5R2 w - - 0 26

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