Chess Puzzle #1dHBQ — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen b5; rooks b1/d2; bishop f2; pawns a7/d4/f4/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e8; rooks a8/e2; bishop f6; pawns d5/f7/g6/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd2 — rook e2→d2, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen b5→e8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook a8→e8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rb8 — rook b1→b8. Opponent replies Rxb8 (rook e8→b8, captures rook).
4. Best move: axb8=Q+ — pawn a7→b8, captures rook, promotes to queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, clearance, long, middlegame, promotion. The key move Qxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3q1k1/P4pp1/5bp1/1Q1p4/3P1P2/6P1/3RrB1P/1R5K b - - 0 35

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