Chess Puzzle #6H2sC — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen b5; rook a4; bishop d4; pawns b6/c3/e5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e4; rooks a8/e8; pawns b7/d5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxa4 — rook a8→a4, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen b5→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
3. Best move: Qxa4 — queen e8→a4, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, hanging piece, short. The key move Qxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/1p3pp1/1P5p/1Q1pP3/R2Bq3/2P4P/6P1/7K b - - 0 35

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