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

Position

White: king h2; queen f6; rooks g2/g3; knight f2; pawns a3/b2/d4/f5. Black: king h8; queen f4; rooks e1/g7; knight f8; pawns a7/b7/g5/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qh4+ — queen f4→h4, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nh3 — knight f2→h3. Opponent replies Nd7 (knight f8→d7).
3. Best move: Qd8+ — queen f6→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rg8 (rook g7→g8).
4. Best move: Qxd7 — queen d8→d7, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, long, middlegame. The key move is Nh3.

Position data

FEN: 5n1k/pp4rp/5Q2/5Pp1/3P1q2/P5R1/1P3NRK/4r3 b - - 4 36

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