Chess Puzzle #8ktwd — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen d4; rook d5; pawns b2/e5/f3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a2; rook c8; pawns a6/b7/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qb3 — queen a2→b3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: e6 — pawn e5→e6. Opponent replies fxe6 (pawn f7→e6, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Rd7 — rook d5→d7.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, short. The key move is e6.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/1p3p1p/p5p1/3RP3/3Q4/5P1P/qP4PK/8 b - - 2 31

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