Chess Puzzle #73LPW — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rook e1; knight c7; pawns a2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen b2; rooks a8/f7; pawns a6/b5/c4/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd8 — rook a8→d8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh6+ — queen e6→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f8→g8).
3. Best move: Qg5+ — queen h6→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Qg7 (queen b2→g7).
4. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen g5→d8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, exposed king, fork, long. The key move Qxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4k2/2N2r1p/p3Q3/1p6/2p5/8/Pq3PPP/4R1K1 b - - 0 24

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