Chess Puzzle #1suJ3 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen f3; rook e1; bishops b3/c3; pawns a2/b2/c4/f2/g5. Black: king b8; queen c7; rooks d4/f8; knight f5; pawns a7/b7/c5/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf4 — queen c7→f4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf4+ — queen f3→f4, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf4 (rook d4→f4, captures queen).
3. Best move: Be5+ — bishop c3→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king b8→c8).
4. Best move: Bxf4 — bishop e5→f4, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxf4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1k3r2/ppq2p2/6p1/2p2nP1/2Pr4/1BB2Q2/PP3P2/1K2R3 b - - 3 36

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