Chess Puzzle #0Lthg — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen e2; rook d6; knight c4; pawns e5/g3/h4. Black: king g7; queen b4; rook c8; knight b3; pawns f6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc4 — queen b4→c4, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: exf6+ — pawn e5→f6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
3. Best move: Qxc4 — queen e2→c4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, intermezzo, master, short. The key move exf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r5/5pkp/3R1pp1/4P3/1qN4P/1n4P1/4Q2K/8 b - - 0 37

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