Chess Puzzle #VKIMA — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen f3; rooks a1/h1; bishop d5; knight e3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f4/g3/h2. Black: king d8; queen c6; rooks b8/f8; bishop c8; knights e4/g6; pawns a6/b7/d7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nh4+ — knight g6→h4, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: gxh4 — pawn g3→h4, captures knight. Opponent replies Qg6+ (queen c6→g6, gives check).
3. Best move: Qg4 — queen f3→g4. Opponent replies Qxg4+ (queen g6→g4, captures queen, gives check).
4. Best move: Nxg4 — knight e3→g4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, long, middlegame. The key move gxh4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1rbk1r2/1p1p2pp/p1q3n1/3B4/4nP2/4NQP1/PPP3KP/R6R b - - 2 22

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