Chess Puzzle #5Ily4 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks c4/d2; bishop f2; pawns a3/b2/f4/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d7; rook a8; bishop g7; knights d4/f5; pawns a5/b6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nf3+ — knight d4→f3, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf3 — queen d1→f3, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxd2 (queen d7→d2, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxa8+ — queen f3→a8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Qxa8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/3q1pbp/1p4p1/p4n2/2Rn1P2/P5P1/1P1R1B1P/3Q2K1 b - - 1 23

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