Chess Puzzle #9tHK4 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen e2; rooks d1/e3; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g3. Black: king g8; queen g4; rook d8; knight f3; pawns a7/b7/d5/e4/f7/g7/h4. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf3 — rook e3→f3, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: exf3+ — pawn e4→f3, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf3 (queen e2→f3, captures pawn).
3. Best move: h3+ — pawn h4→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g2→f1).
4. Best move: Qxf3 — queen g4→f3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, fork, long. The key move exf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/pp3pp1/8/3p4/4p1qp/2P1RnP1/PP2QPK1/3R4 w - - 2 28

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