Chess Puzzle #2s0nD — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g7; rook f1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen a5; rooks a8/h8; pawns a6/b7/e6/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rag8 — rook a8→g8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen g7→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e7→d8).
3. Best move: Qxb7 — queen f7→b7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qc5+ (queen a5→c5, gives check).
4. Best move: Kh1 — king g1→h1.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, skewer. The key move Qxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r6r/1p2kpQp/p3p3/q7/8/2N5/PPP3PP/5RK1 b - - 0 18

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