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

Position

White: king g1; queen d6; rooks d1/f1; knight g3; pawns a2/b3/c4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king a8; queen h6; rooks g5/h8; knight h4; pawns b6/d7/e6/f7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: f4 — pawn f2→f4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nf5 — knight h4→f5. Opponent replies fxg5 (pawn f4→g5, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxh2+ — queen h6→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king g1→f2).
4. Best move: Nxd6 — knight f5→d6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: k6r/3p1p2/1p1Qp2q/6r1/2P4n/1P2P1N1/P4PPP/3R1RK1 w - - 5 26

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