Chess Puzzle #7A45L — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen c4; rooks a1/d1; knights b5/c7; pawns b2/b3/b6/g2/h3. Black: king g7; queen f2; rook f8; bishops c8/f4; pawns a5/d6/e4/e5/g6/h5. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd5 — knight c7→d5. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Bxh3 — bishop c8→h3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nxf4 (knight d5→f4, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Rxf4 — rook f8→f4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, master, middlegame, short. The key move Bxh3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2b2r2/2N3k1/1P1p2p1/pN2p2p/2Q1pb2/1P5P/1P3qP1/R2R3K w - - 4 27

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