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

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks c1/e1; bishops b2/d3; knight e5; pawns a3/b3/d4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d5; rooks d8/f8; bishop c7; knights e7/g5; pawns a6/b6/e6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: h4 — pawn h2→h4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nh3+ — knight g5→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king g1→h2).
3. Best move: Rxf2+ — rook f8→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh3 (king h2→h3, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qg2+ — queen d5→g2, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxf2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/2b1n1pp/pp2p3/3qN1n1/3P4/PP1B2P1/1B3P1P/2RQR1K1 w - - 9 23

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