Chess Puzzle #2CFy1 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen h7; rooks b1/g6; bishop c2; pawns a3/b2/c3/f2/g2/h5. Black: king f8; queen e2; rooks c8/f7; bishop b5; pawns a5/b7/d5/e6/f5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: d4 — pawn d5→d4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h7→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
3. Best move: Qxc8 — queen h8→c8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, short, skewer. The key move is Qh8+.

Position data

FEN: 2r2k2/1p3rpQ/4p1Rp/pb1p1p1P/8/P1P5/1PB1qPP1/1RK5 b - - 3 29

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