Chess Puzzle #5CSXY — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e2; queen f3; rook e3; bishop c2; knight f5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d3/e4/f2. Black: king h5; queen d7; rooks g4/g8; bishop g5; knight c6; pawns a4/b5/c7/d6/e5/f7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxe3 — bishop g5→e3, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh3+ — queen f3→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg6 (king h5→g6).
3. Best move: Qxg4+ — queen h3→g4, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bg5 (bishop e3→g5).
4. Best move: Nh4+ — knight f5→h4, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxg4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6r1/2pq1p2/2np4/1p2pNbk/p3P1r1/2PPRQ2/PPB1KP2/8 b - - 1 30

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