Chess Puzzle #3EwwU — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g7; rooks a1/f1; bishop d4; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/h3. Black: king e8; queen h4; rooks a8/h8; knight g8; pawns a7/b7/e4/e6/f7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: O-O-O — king e8→c8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh8 — queen g7→h8, captures rook. Opponent replies Nh6 (knight g8→h6).
3. Best move: Bf6 — bishop d4→f6. Opponent replies Rxh8 (rook d8→h8, captures queen).
4. Best move: Bxh4 — bishop f6→h4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxh8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3k1nr/pp3pQ1/4p3/8/3Bp2q/2P4P/PP3P2/R4RK1 b kq - 2 20

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