Chess Puzzle #9Pb4t — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen e2; rooks a1/f1; bishop e3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/f2/f6/g3/h2. Black: king c8; queen c6; rooks d3/h8; bishop f8; knight c5; pawns a7/b5/c4/e6/f7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf3 — queen e2→f3. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxh2+ — rook h8→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh2 (king g2→h2, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxf3 — queen c6→f3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, master, middlegame, short. The key move Rxh2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2k2b1r/p4p2/2q1pP2/1pn5/2p5/2NrB1P1/PP2QPKP/R4R2 w - - 3 19

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