Chess Puzzle #V25On — Master, White to move, opening

Position

White: king f1; queen g7; rooks a1/h1; bishops c4/g5; knight h3; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/f2/h2. Black: king e8; queen f3; rooks a8/h8; bishop c5; knights b8/h4; pawns a7/b7/c6/d4/e5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxh1+ — queen f3→h1, captures rook, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ke2 — king f1→e2. Opponent replies Qf3+ (queen h1→f3, gives check).
3. Best move: Kd2 — king e2→d2. Opponent replies Nd7 (knight b8→d7).
4. Best move: Qxh8+ — queen g7→h8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame. The key move Qxh8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rn2k2r/pp3pQp/2p3p1/2b1p1B1/2Bp3n/P2P1q1N/1PP2P1P/R4K1R b kq - 2 16

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