Chess Puzzle #9Fwpu — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen a4; rooks a1/f1; bishop g5; pawns a3/b2/c2/g6/h3. Black: king f8; queen f3; rooks a8/h8; knight f2; pawns a7/d6/e5/h4. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxh4 — bishop g5→h4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxh3+ — queen f3→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h2→g1).
3. Best move: Rxh4 — rook h8→h4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxf2+ (rook f1→f2, captures knight, gives check).
4. Best move: Kg7 — king f8→g7. Opponent replies Qd7+ (queen a4→d7, gives check).
5. Best move: Qxd7 — queen h3→d7, captures queen. Opponent replies Rf7+ (rook f2→f7, gives check).
6. Best move: Qxf7 — queen d7→f7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, intermezzo, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4k1r/p7/3p2P1/4p1B1/Q6p/P4q1P/1PP2n1K/R4R2 w - - 2 28

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