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

Position

White: king h3; queen g3; bishop f5; pawns a3/b4/e4/h4. Black: king g7; queen a2; rook f8; pawns a7/b7/c6/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kh8 — king g7→h8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe5+ — queen g3→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
3. Best move: Be6+ — bishop f5→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe6+ (queen a2→e6, captures bishop, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen e5→e6, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, exposed king, fork, long. The key move Qxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/pp4k1/2p4p/5B2/1P2P2P/P5QK/q7/8 b - - 1 40

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