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

Position

White: king e1; queen e5; rooks a1/h1; knights b1/h3; pawns a2/c3/d4/e2/g3/g4/h2. Black: king d7; queen b2; rooks a8/h8; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/e4/f7/g6/h5. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxh8 — queen e5→h8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qc1+ — queen b2→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king e1→f2).
3. Best move: Qxh1 — queen c1→h1, captures rook. Opponent replies Ng5 (knight h3→g5).
4. Best move: Qxh2+ — queen h1→h2, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame, skewer. The key move Qxh2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rn5r/pp1k1p2/2p3p1/3pQ2p/3Pp1P1/2P3PN/Pq2P2P/RN2K2R w KQ - 2 15

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