Chess Puzzle #AcNK1 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h6; rooks a1/g3; knight c3; pawns b2/b3/c2/d3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks a8/f8; bishop e7; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxg3 — queen d6→g3, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen h6→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: hxg3 — pawn h2→g3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, intermezzo, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pp2b1pp/3qp2Q/3p4/8/1PNP2R1/1PP3PP/R5K1 b - - 1 19

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