Chess Puzzle #9Shz7 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b5; rooks c5/d1; bishop b1; pawns a3/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e5; rooks d8/e8; bishop e6; knight d5; pawns f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nf4 — knight d5→f4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen b5→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxe5 — rook c5→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3rr1k1/5p1p/4b1p1/1QRnq3/4P3/P7/5PPP/1B1R2K1 b - - 0 26

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