Chess Puzzle #D17JI — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g2; rooks a1/e5; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/d5/h3. Black: king g8; queen h4; rooks a8/f4; bishop g6; pawns a7/c6/c7/g4/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: cxd5 — pawn c6→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd5+ — queen g2→d5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rf7 (rook f4→f7).
3. Best move: Qxa8+ — queen d5→a8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
4. Best move: Qd5+ — queen a8→d5, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxd5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/p1p3pp/2p3b1/3PR3/3P1rpq/2P4P/PP4Q1/RN4K1 b - - 0 21

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