Chess Puzzle #0QIEQ — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen c3; rooks a1/f1; pawns a2/b2/e3/f3/f4/h2. Black: king h8; queen f8; rook d8; bishop c5; knight g4; pawns a7/b7/f6/f7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe3 — knight g4→e3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf6+ — queen c3→f6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qg7 (queen f8→g7).
3. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen f6→d8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, middlegame, short. The key move Qxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r1q1k/pp3p1p/5p2/2b5/5Pn1/2Q1PP2/PP5P/R4R1K b - - 2 21

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