Chess Puzzle #A25J1 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/b1; bishop a7; knight d7; pawns c3/d4/e3/f2/h2. Black: king g8; queen h5; rook e8; knight g4; pawns a6/b5/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 7 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne5 — knight d7→e5. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxh2+ — queen h5→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
3. Best move: Nxe3+ — knight g4→e3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies fxe3 (pawn f2→e3, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qxc2 — queen h2→c2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Qxh2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/B2N1ppp/p3p3/1p5q/3P2n1/2P1P3/2Q2P1P/RR4K1 w - - 1 23

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