Chess Puzzle #5FyHq — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rooks e5/f1; bishops g4/h6; pawns a3/b2/c3/e6/f3/h2. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a7/d5; bishop e7; knight b6; pawns a6/b5/c4/d3/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe5 — rook d5→e5, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe5+ — queen f4→e5, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bf6 (bishop e7→f6).
3. Best move: e7 — pawn e6→e7. Opponent replies Qxe7 (queen d8→e7, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Qb8+ — queen e5→b8, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Qxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3q3k/r3b2p/pn2P1pB/1p1rR3/2p2QB1/P1Pp1P2/1P5P/5RK1 b - - 7 26

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