Chess Puzzle #FQR9B — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks c7/d1; bishop c4; knights e2/h7; pawns a2/b3/c2/d5/e4. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks a8/g2; bishop c8; knights c5/g4; pawns a3/b7/d6/e5/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf2 — queen f6→f2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg5 — queen d2→g5. Opponent replies Qe3+ (queen f2→e3, gives check).
3. Best move: Qxe3 — queen g5→e3, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxe3 (knight g4→e3, captures queen).
4. Best move: Nf6+ — knight h7→f6, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move is Qg5.

Position data

FEN: r1b3k1/1pR4N/3p1qp1/2nPp3/2B1P1n1/pP6/P1PQN1r1/2KR4 b - - 1 21

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