Chess Puzzle #1DoRX — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h3; queen h4; rook b2; knight b5; pawns b4/e3/f2/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen e6; rooks a1/g1; pawns d5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe4 — queen e6→e4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd8+ — queen h4→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
3. Best move: Nd6+ — knight b5→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Ke6 (king f7→e6).
4. Best move: Nxe4 — knight d6→e4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, long. The key move is Qd8+.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/6pp/4q3/1N1p4/1P4PQ/4P2K/1R3P1P/r5r1 b - - 0 39

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