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

Position

White: king h1; queen b2; rooks a1/e3; knight e6; pawns a2/b4/f3/g3. Black: king b8; queen b7; rooks f8/h8; knight h4; pawns a7/b6/g4/h3. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf3 — rook f8→f3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe5+ — queen b2→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Ka8 (king b8→a8).
3. Best move: Nc7+ — knight e6→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc7 (queen b7→c7, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qxc7 — queen e5→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Qe5+.

Position data

FEN: 1k3r1r/pq6/1p2N3/8/1P4pn/4RPPp/PQ6/R6K b - - 0 35

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