Chess Puzzle #3q8ZM — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen g5; rook g4; bishop c2; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/d3/e4/f2/f4/h3. Black: king g7; queen d7; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; pawns a6/c5/d6/e7/f7/g6/h4. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rh5 — rook h8→h5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh5 — queen g5→h5, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxg4 (queen d7→g4, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxg4 — queen h5→g4, captures queen. Opponent replies Bxg4 (bishop c8→g4, captures queen).
4. Best move: hxg4 — pawn h3→g4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Qxh5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1b4r/3qppk1/p2p2p1/2p3Q1/4PPRp/2NP3P/PPB2P1K/8 b - - 1 23

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