Chess Puzzle #E5Yct — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen e2; rook c7; knight g5; pawns a3/b4/d3/d5/f5/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen d4; rook d8; knight g4; pawns a6/b5/d6/e5/f7/g7/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne3 — knight g4→e3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh5 — queen e2→h5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qa1+ (queen d4→a1, gives check).
3. Best move: Kh2 — king h1→h2. Opponent replies Ng4+ (knight e3→g4, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxg4 — queen h5→g4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move Qxh5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/2R2pp1/p2p4/1p1PpPNp/1P1q2nP/P2P4/4Q1P1/7K b - - 12 35

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