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

Position

White: king h2; queen d3; rooks b2/g6; knight d4; pawns c2/e5/f4/h3. Black: king h8; queen e7; rooks b8/f8; bishop d7; pawns b4/c3/d5/e6/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: cxb2 — pawn c3→b2, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh6+ — rook g6→h6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
3. Best move: Qg3+ — queen d3→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Qg7 (queen e7→g7).
4. Best move: Rg6 — rook h6→g6. Opponent replies Qxg6 (queen g7→g6, captures rook).
5. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen g3→g6, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, exposed king, middlegame, pin, very long. The key move Rxh6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r3r1k/3bq3/4p1Rp/3pP3/1p1N1P2/2pQ3P/1RP4K/8 b - - 5 36

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