Chess Puzzle #11ea6 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h3; rooks d1/g7; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king e6; queen c5; rooks a6/h8; knight d6; pawns a5/b7/e5/f5/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: h5 — pawn h7→h5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb3+ — queen h3→b3, gives check. Opponent replies Qc4 (queen c5→c4).
3. Best move: Rxd6+ — rook d1→d6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd6 (king e6→d6, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxc4 — queen b3→c4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, long, middlegame. The key move Rxd6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 7r/1p4Rp/r2nk3/p1q1pp2/8/7Q/PPP3PP/3R3K b - - 1 31

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