Chess Puzzle #4QOV2 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e2; queen f6; rooks c1/e1; knight b5; pawns a2/b2/d3/e5/f2/g2. Black: king b8; queen c7; rooks h1/h8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe5+ — queen c7→e5, captures pawn, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe5+ — queen f6→e5, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Nxe5 (knight c6→e5, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxh1 — rook e1→h1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1k5r/ppq2p2/2n1pQ2/1N1pP3/8/3P4/PP2KPP1/2R1R2r b - - 5 26

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