Chess Puzzle #3AYOf — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rooks a1/e1; bishop c1; pawns a4/b2/d2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f7; queen d3; rooks a8/h8; bishops e6/g7; pawns a7/b6/c5/e7/f6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd4 — queen d3→d4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh5+ — queen h4→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king f7→f8).
3. Best move: Rxe6 — rook e1→e6, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

deflection, equality, middlegame, short. The key move is Qh5+.

Position data

FEN: r6r/p3pkbp/1p2bp2/2p5/P6Q/3q4/1P1P1PPP/R1B1R1K1 b - - 1 17

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