Chess Puzzle #VB5QI — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen g3; rooks d1/f1; bishop d2; knight d5; pawns a3/b2/c4/d3/f2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e5; rooks c8/h5; bishop d6; pawns a7/b7/c5/e4/f3/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: dxe4 — pawn d3→e4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qe6 — queen e5→e6. Opponent replies Qxf3 (queen g3→f3, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Rxh3+ — rook h5→h3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king h1→g2).
4. Best move: Rxf3 — rook h3→f3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Rxh3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/pp4pp/3b4/2pNq2r/2P1p3/P2P1pQP/1P1B1P2/3R1R1K w - - 6 28

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