Chess Puzzle #7HaBa — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen g4; rooks a1/g3; bishop h7; pawns a2/b2/c3/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d2; rooks a8/f8; bishop b7; knight d7; pawns a6/b5/c4/d5/e6/f7/g5. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxh7 — king g8→h7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen g4→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h7→g7).
3. Best move: Rxg5+ — rook g3→g5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxg5 (queen d2→g5, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxg5+ — queen h5→g5, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, exposed king, long, middlegame. The key move Rxg5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1b1n1p1B/p3p3/1p1pP1p1/2p3Q1/2P3R1/PP1q2PP/R6K b - - 1 21

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