Chess Puzzle #pxzM8 — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b7; rooks a1/e6; bishop b3; knight h6; pawns a2/b2/c2/e7/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen h5; rooks e8/h7; bishop b6; knight b4; pawns a6/b5/c7/d4/g5. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nf5 — knight h6→f5. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxh2+ — queen h5→h2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
3. Best move: d3 — pawn d4→d3. Opponent replies cxd3 (pawn c2→d3, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Qh1+ — queen h2→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king f1→e2).
5. Best move: Qxa1 — queen h1→a1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, middlegame, skewer, very long. The key move Qxh2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r2k/1Qp1P2r/pb2R2N/1p4pq/1n1p4/1B6/PPP2PPP/R5K1 w - - 1 27

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