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

Position

White: king b1; queen e2; rooks d5/h1; pawns b2/f3/g2/h4. Black: king b8; queen b6; rooks a8/h8; bishop c3; pawns f5/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qb3 — queen b6→b3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rb5+ — rook d5→b5, gives check. Opponent replies Qxb5 (queen b3→b5, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxb5+ — queen e2→b5, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Qxb5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rk5r/5p2/1q4p1/3R1p1p/7P/2b2P2/1P2Q1P1/1K5R b - - 1 30

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