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

Position

White: king g1; queen c5; rooks c7/e1; pawns a2/c2/f4/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen h6; rooks c8/f8; knight f5; pawns a7/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxc7 — rook c8→c7, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen c5→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king h8→h7).
3. Best move: Qxf5+ — queen f8→f5, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, fork, hanging piece, master, master vs master, short. The key move Qxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r2r1k/p1R3p1/7q/2Q2n2/5P2/6P1/P1P4P/4R1K1 b - - 4 27

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