Chess Puzzle #Ch9Pi — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen e5; rooks a1/h1; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c3/e3/h2. Black: king d7; queen c6; rooks c8/h8; bishop h6; pawns a6/b7/c5/d4/e6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxe3 — bishop h6→e3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg7+ — queen e5→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king d7→d8).
3. Best move: Qxh8+ — queen g7→h8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, interference, middlegame, short. The key move Qxh8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r4r/1p1k3p/p1q1p2b/2p1Q3/3pN3/2P1P3/PP5P/R3K2R b KQ - 0 21

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