Chess Puzzle #53Vff — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d2; rooks e1/g4; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/f2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop d6; pawns a7/c7/e4/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: exf3 — pawn e4→f3, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh6 — queen d2→h6. Opponent replies g6 (pawn g7→g6).
3. Best move: Rh4 — rook g4→h4. Opponent replies Qxh4+ (queen d8→h4, captures rook, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxh4 — queen h6→h4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame, pin, quiet move. The key move is Qh6.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/p1p2ppp/3b4/8/4p1R1/3P1N2/PPPQ1P2/4R2K b - - 1 19

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