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

Position

White: king g1; queen h7; rooks a1/f1; bishop f6; knight g5; pawns a3/b4/d4/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks c8/g6; bishop f8; knights a7/f5; pawns a6/b7/d5/e6/f7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bg7 — bishop f8→g7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg8+ — queen h7→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e8→d7).
3. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen g8→f7, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2r1kb2/np3p1Q/pq2pBr1/3pPnN1/1P1P4/P7/5PPP/R4RK1 b - - 8 20

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