Chess Puzzle #18JvE — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g7; rook g5; pawns a4/b2/d5/g2/h3. Black: king e4; queen d7; rook f6; pawns a6/b7/d6/e7/f5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa4 — queen d7→a4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe7+ — queen g7→e7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd5 (king e4→d5, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qxf6 — queen e7→f6, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, pin, short. The key move Qxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/1p1qp1Q1/p2p1r2/3P1pR1/P3k3/7P/1P4P1/6K1 b - - 1 30

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