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

Position

White: king h2; queen e8; bishop g2; knight c2; pawns a2/e3/f4/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen c4; rook b2; pawns a6/c5/e4/f5/g6/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kg7 — king g8→g7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe5+ — queen e8→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g7→f7).
3. Best move: Qxb2 — queen e5→b2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, short. The key move is Qe5+.

Position data

FEN: 4Q1k1/8/p5pp/2p2p2/2q1pP2/4P1PP/PrN3BK/8 b - - 4 40

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