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

Position

White: king h3; queen b7; rook d4; bishop g2; pawns c4/f4/g3/g4. Black: king h7; queen c2; rook e2; bishop c7; pawns b3/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc3 — queen c2→c3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Be4+ — bishop g2→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe4 (rook e2→e4, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qxe4+ — queen b7→e4, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, master, short. The key move Qxe4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/1Qb2ppk/7p/8/2PR1PP1/1p4PK/2q1r1B1/8 b - - 3 39

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