Chess Puzzle #qUb4Q — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e5; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/d2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop c6; knight g4; pawns a7/b7/c7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxg7 — queen e5→g7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qh4 — queen d8→h4. Opponent replies h3 (pawn h2→h3).
3. Best move: O-O-O — king e8→c8.

Tactical themes

advantage, castling, defensive move, middlegame, short. The key move is Qh4.

Position data

FEN: r2qk2r/ppp2ppp/2b1p3/4Q3/6n1/8/PPPP1PPP/RNB2RK1 w kq - 2 11

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