Chess Puzzle #3WDqh — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a1; rooks a8/f1; bishops c3/g2; knight b5; pawns c4/d3/e2/f2/g3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rook e8; bishops c8/h4; knights d7/g4; pawns b6/c5/e6/f7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: gxh4 — pawn g3→h4, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxh4 — queen d8→h4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Be5 (bishop c3→e5).
3. Best move: Ndxe5 — knight d7→e5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxe5 (queen a1→e5, captures knight).
4. Best move: Nxe5 — knight g4→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Qxh4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: R1bqr1k1/3n1p2/1p2p3/1Np5/2P3nb/2BP2P1/4PPB1/Q4RK1 w - - 1 23

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