Chess Puzzle #9SEdd — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g3; rooks b1/e1; knight h6; pawns a2/b3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks d6/f8; bishop b5; knight b8; pawns a5/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kh8 — king g8→h8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh3 — queen g3→h3. Opponent replies gxh6 (pawn g7→h6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxh6+ — queen h3→h6, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The key move Qxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1n1q1rk1/1p3pp1/3rp2N/pb1p4/3P4/1P4Q1/P4PPP/1R2R1K1 b - - 0 28

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