Chess Puzzle #37ucs — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks d1/f1; bishop f6; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen c7; rooks a8/d8; bishops d7/e7; pawns a7/b7/e6/f7/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxf6 — bishop e7→f6, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen e2→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
3. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen h5→f7, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move Qxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2r4/ppqbbppk/4pB2/4N3/8/8/PPP1QPPP/3R1RK1 b - - 0 16

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