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

Position

White: king h1; queen f5; rook c1; bishop d5; knight b3; pawns a2/c4/g2/g4/h4. Black: king g7; queen b4; rooks c8/h8; bishop f6; pawns a7/d6/e7/f7/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: hxg4 — pawn h5→g4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxg4+ — queen f5→g4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g7→f8).
3. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen g4→c8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, interference, middlegame, short. The key move Qxg4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r4r/p3ppk1/3p1b2/3B1Q1p/1qP3PP/1N6/P5P1/2R4K b - - 0 27

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