Chess Puzzle #Em5NV — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen d3; rooks a1/g1; bishops e3/e4; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d5/f2/h2. Black: king e8; queen h3; rooks a8/h8; bishop g4; knights d4/f6; pawns a6/b7/e5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxh2 — queen h3→h2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rh1 — rook g1→h1. Opponent replies Nxe4 (knight f6→e4, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Rxh2 — rook h1→h2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, short, trapped piece. The key move is Rh1.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/1p3ppp/p4n2/3Pp3/3nB1b1/2NQB2q/PPP2P1P/R3K1R1 b Qkq - 7 15

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