Chess Puzzle #31GoR — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks c1/f2; knight g5; pawns a3/b4/c2/e5/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen b6; rooks c3/f8; bishop d7; knight e7; pawns a6/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kg8 — king h7→g8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh5 — queen d1→h5. Opponent replies Qxf2+ (queen b6→f2, captures rook, gives check).
3. Best move: Kxf2 — king g1→f2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move is Qh5.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/1p1bnppk/pq2p3/3pP1N1/1P6/P1r5/2P2RPP/2RQ2K1 b - - 1 16

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