Chess Puzzle #GIEvU — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen a7; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/g2; knight e4; pawns a2/e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king c8; queen e7; rooks d8/h8; bishop f8; knights b4/e2; pawns b7/c6/g4/h4. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ba3 — bishop c1→a3. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: hxg3 — pawn h4→g3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qa8+ (queen a7→a8, gives check).
3. Best move: Kc7 — king c8→c7. Opponent replies Qa5+ (queen a8→a5, gives check).
4. Best move: Kb8 — king c7→b8.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, long, middlegame. The key move hxg3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2kr1b1r/Qp2q3/2p5/8/1n2N1pp/4P1P1/P3nPBP/R1B2R1K w - - 0 22

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