Chess Puzzle #43HW9 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d8; rook f1; bishop c5; knight f3; pawns d4/e5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h7; queen a4; rooks b7/c3; bishop e8; pawns a7/b4/d5/e6/g6/g7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: b3 — pawn b4→b3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen d8→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
3. Best move: Ng5 — knight f3→g5. Opponent replies Rxc5 (rook c3→c5, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Qh7+ — queen h4→h7, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move is Qh4+.

Position data

FEN: 3Qb3/pr4pk/4p1p1/2BpP3/qp1P4/2r2N1P/5PP1/5RK1 b - - 9 28

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