Chess Puzzle #31iqX — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen g3; rooks d1/h1; pawns a3/b2/b3/d6/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; pawns a6/b7/c7/e4/e5/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bf5 — bishop c8→f5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe5+ — queen g3→e5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king e8→f7).
3. Best move: Qe7+ — queen e5→e7, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k2r/1pp5/pq1P2pp/4p3/4p3/PP4Q1/1P3PPP/2KR3R b kq - 0 18

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