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

Position

White: king h2; queen h5; bishop e8; pawns a3/b4/c5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen a1; knight c4; pawns a4/b5/c6/d5/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe5+ — queen a1→e5, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe5 — queen h5→e5, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxe5 (knight c4→e5, captures queen).
3. Best move: f4 — pawn f2→f4. Opponent replies Nc4 (knight e5→c4).
4. Best move: Bxc6 — bishop e8→c6, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move Qxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4B2k/6p1/2p4p/1pPp3Q/pPn5/P6P/5PPK/q7 b - - 2 31

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