Chess Puzzle #8YS5U — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e2; queen h4; rooks a1/h2; bishop d2; knight f6; pawns a2/b2/c4/d5/e3/g3. Black: king g8; queen f7; rooks c8/f8; bishop c5; knight f2; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e4/e5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxf6 — queen f7→f6, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh7+ — queen h4→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
3. Best move: Rxf2 — rook h2→f2, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxf2+ (queen f6→f2, captures rook, gives check).
4. Best move: Kxf2 — king e2→f2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Qxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/ppp2qpp/3p1N2/2bPp3/2P1p2Q/4P1P1/PP1BKn1R/R7 b - - 1 21

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