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

Position

White: king b1; queen d3; rook d1; knight a3; pawns b3/c2/h2. Black: king c6; queen b4; rooks b6/e8; pawns d5/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa3 — queen b4→a3, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd5+ — queen d3→d5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kc7 (king c6→c7).
3. Best move: Qd7+ — queen d5→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c7→b8).
4. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen d7→e8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, long. The key move Qxd5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r3/6pp/1rk2p2/3p4/1q6/NP1Q4/2P4P/1K1R4 b - - 4 34

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