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

Position

White: king e1; queen f8; rooks d2/f2; pawns a2/b2. Black: king h6; queen h3; rook e4; knight b4; pawns a7/b6/e2/f5/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kh5 — king h6→h5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rh2 — rook f2→h2. Opponent replies Qxh2 (queen h3→h2, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qh8+ — queen f8→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg5 (king h5→g5).
4. Best move: Qxh2 — queen h8→h2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, pin, sacrifice, skewer. The key move is Rh2.

Position data

FEN: 5Q2/p7/1p4pk/5p2/1n2r3/7q/PP1RpR2/4K3 b - - 1 36

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