Chess Puzzle #3OktO — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d1; queen e5; rook h1; bishops c1/f1; knights d2/g1; pawns a3/b2/e2/f2/g2/h5. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/g5; knights a1/e4; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe7 — queen d8→e7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxh8+ — queen e5→h8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e8→d7).
3. Best move: Nxe4 — knight d2→e4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, opening, short. The key move Qxh8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bqk2r/ppp2p1p/8/3pQ1bP/4n3/P7/1P1NPPP1/n1BK1BNR b kq - 3 13

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