Chess Puzzle #2TMu5 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e1; rooks b1/f1; bishop d3; pawns a2/c2/d4/f4/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen f6; rook a8; bishop c8; knights b8/c3; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxb1 — knight c3→b1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e1→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Qf8 (queen f6→f8).
3. Best move: Bh7+ — bishop d3→h7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g8→h7, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Qxf8 — queen e8→f8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Qe8+.

Position data

FEN: rnb3k1/pp4p1/2p2q1p/3p4/3P1P2/2nB2P1/P1P4P/1R2QRK1 b - - 1 19

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