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

Position

White: king h1; queen a6; rooks a1/f1; bishop e3; pawns a4/c3/e4/f2/f3/h2. Black: king d8; queen h5; rook f8; bishop d6; knight a5; pawns c7/e5/e6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa5 — queen a6→a5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxf3+ — queen h5→f3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
3. Best move: Qg4+ — queen f3→g4, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move Qxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3k1r2/2p3pp/Q2bp3/n3p2q/P3P3/2P1BP2/5P1P/R4R1K w - - 1 23

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